Fabrication and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)/alginate blend nanofibers by electrospinning method

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/alginate (Alg) nanofibers are prepared using electrospinning method in aqueous solutions with PVA (10 wt.%)/Alg (2 wt.%) blended system in a volume ratios of 100/0, 80/20, and 60/40. Because of biocompatibility and non-toxicity of PVA, it could be used in numerous fields. Alginate is an interesting natural biopolymer for many of its merits and good biological properties. The blended nanofibers are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and mechanical measurement. XRD, FTIR and DSC data demonstrate that there are good interactions between PVA and Alg caused by possibly hydrogen bonds. The study shows that with a higher percentage of Alg in the PVA/Alg blend nanofibers, superior onset temperature of the degradation and higher thermal stability could be obtained above 350 °C. Moreover, the blend nanofibers exhibit improvement in mechanical properties compared to pure electrospun PVA with the addition of Alg.