Optimization of the electrospinning conditions for preparation of nanofibers from polyvinylacetate (PVAc) in ethanol solvent

In order to fabricate polyvinylacetate (PVAc) fiber by electrospinning, we have been examined electrospun polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) under various conditions after dissolving it in ethanol solution. As the concentration of spinning solution increased, the diameter of the electrospun PVAc fiber increased. At the concentration lower than 10 wt.%, beads were formed while over the 25 wt.%, distinct fiber was not observed. At the tip-collector distance (TCD) of 7.5 cm or less, the jet of spinning solution was unstable and the fiber diameter decreased. On the other hand, at the TCD of 10 cm or more, the strength of electric field became too weak and the fiber diameter increased. As the flow rate of spinning solution increased, the fiber diameter increased and at the flow rate of 300 mu l/min or more, it increased sharply. For 15 wt.% PVAc, the fiber diameter decreased as the applied voltage increased. At a high-applied voltage, however, charge acceleration caused the spinning solution not to be separated and thus the fiber diameter increased. As a result of dissolving PVAc in ethanol and electrospinning it in the following conditions, a fiber with the diameter of about 700 nm was spun: the concentration of 15 wt.%, the TCD of 10 cm, the spinning solution flow rate of 100 mu l/min, and the applied voltage of 15 kV. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.