SOLVENT OPTIMIZATION OF ELECTROSPUN POLY(ACRYLIC ACID) NANOFIBERS

In this study, it was investigated experimentally the influence of various solvents (distilled water and ethanol) on the solution properties, spinning performance, and fibre morphology of the electro spun Poly (acrylic acid) nanofibers. Firstly, polymer solutions were prepared at 5 wt % PAA with various solvent ratios of ethanol and distilled water. Then, solution properties such as viscosity, density, pH, conductivity, and surface tension were determined. The production of nanofiber samples was carried out by electrospinning under the optimum process parameters (voltage, distance between electrodes, feed rate, and atmospheric conditions). Finally, the morphological characterization of the nanofiber surface was carried out with SEM. According to the results, it was observed that conductivity, surface tension and the density of the solution increase as the ethanol ratio decreases. On the other hand, pH value increases as the ethanol ratio increases and, so, the acidic value of the solutions decreases. The viscosity increased until the ethanol/distilled water ratio was 50/50 and then decreased as the ethanol percentage decreased to under 50%. In addition, average fibre diameter decreases with ethanol ratio decreases. It is possible to say that solvent type affects solution properties, fibre morphology and spinning performance significantly. Generally, fine, uniform and bead free nanofibers could be electro spun and the PAA solution containing 70 wt % distilled water and 30 wt % ethanol was selected as the optimum in terms of fibre morphology, web quality and spinning performance.