Investigation of Parameters Effects on Electrospinning ofPoly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Nanofiber

Poly(ethylene terephthalate),PET, nanofibers potential application on many biological and environmental fields. Nonwoven PET nanofibersare normally produced by electrospinning of PET and trifluoroacetic acid solution under different conditions. Process and material parameters have significant effect on morphology and diameter. So far, successful electrospinning of PET with diameter under 200 nm have not been reported. Moreover, complexity of this process makes empirically determination of the parameters effect very difficult. Polymer solution concentration, voltage, distance of nozzle to collector and flow rate are the most important four parameters that affect diameter of nanofiber and bead formation. In This research, optimumrange of parameters for producing uniform and beadless nanofibers, with diameter under 200 nm, for the first time, were determined. These ranges are: polymer solution concentration (3-5 wt %), applied voltage (24-26 kV), spinning distance, and flow rate(50-90L/hr). Furthermore, it was determined that the most effective parameter on diameter of electrospun PET fibers is nozzle to collector distance. Increasing distance from 20 cm up to 50 cm causes diameter of PET fibers to decrease from the micron size to 100-200nm.