Characterization of a Xanthan Gum — Cetylpyridinium Chloride Microfluidic System

Abstract

This work successfully produced gelation between xanthan gum solution and cetylpyridinium chloride (CpyCl) solution inside of a double-junction focusing device with a rectangular stream cross-section. Through separate wet-spinning trials, it was shown that this gelation process can be considered to be instantaneous, and that the critical micelle concentration of CpyCl has no effect on gelation possibilities. The possible outcomes of the microfluidic system were shown to be no gelation, fragment formation, fiber formation, or a clog. The progression through these outcomes, from former to latter, was caused by an increase in xanthan gum concentration, increase in CpyCl concentration, or increase in xanthan gum flow rate. The successful continuous production of flat ribbon-like fibers with ruffled edges was demonstrated. The fiber widths produced ranged from 7.8 – 64.8 micrometers, with an increase in fiber width being driven by an increase in xanthan gum concentration and flow rate.