Optimization of Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile/Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) Nanofiber Diameter Using the Response Surface Method

Electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PAN/PVdF) was applied using Box–Benkhen experimental design to obtain a quantitative relationship between selected electrospinning parameters (namely applied voltage, solution concentration, and PVdF composition) and nanofiber diameter and standard deviation of nanofiber diameter. Important parameters in the model were determined by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The model was consequently used to find the optimal conditions that yield the minimum PAN/PVdF nanofiber diameter. The morphology and nanofiber diameter were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESM). The range of produced nanofiber diameters was from 116 to 379 nm. It was concluded that the nanofiber diameter tended to increase with solution concentration and decrease with PVdF composition. The applied voltage had no significant effect on the nanofiber diameters. Nanofibers with smaller standard deviation in diameter could be obtained at lower solution concentrations and higher PVdF composition. The model predicted the minimum nanofiber diameter of 114 nm when the applied voltage was set at 19.7 kV, solution concentration set at 14.07 wt%, and the PVdF composition set at 58.78 wt%.