The effect of process parameters on the electrospun polystyrene fibers

Abstract

Electrospinning is one of the methods for obtaining nano/microfibers, using polymeric solutions. These nanofibrous membranes are highly porous with interconnected pores, having high specific surface area and small pore size, making them a suitable candidate for filtration applications. The properties of electrospun fibers are influenced by polymer solution, solvent, solution concentration, viscosity, electrical conductivity, electrical voltage, spinneret to collector distance etc. Expanded polystyrene is a polymeric product that is usually used for insulation and packaging. Recycling expanded polystyrene into nanofibers with applications in filtration could be useful from an economic point of view. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of expanded polystyrene polymer solution characteristics (concentration, viscosity) and the process parameters (applied voltage, distance between the tip and the collector plate, flow rate of the polymer solution) on the morphology and the properties of the obtained electrospun fibers. Therefore, three EPS solutions with 10, 15 and 20% wt. concentration were prepared and were electrospun under processing conditions with an applied voltage of 12, 15 and 18 kV, a spinneret-to-collector distance of 20 cm, a flow rate of solution of 1.5 and 2 mL/hour, a spinneret diameter of 0.8 mm and stationary copper substrate. The morphology of the electrospun fibers was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties were evaluated by tensile strength and elongation tests.