A Study of Optimum Conditions for Electrospinning Cellulose Acetate Nanofibers in Trifluoroacetic Acid Solvent

Cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers were electrospun in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) under various conditions of concentration, voltage and dope flow rate while tip to collector distance (TCD) kept constant. Results showed that concentrations lower than 8 wt. % could only be electrospun at low flow rates. Bead free fibers were easily electrospun from higher CA concentrations 13 wt. % to 15 wt. %. Concentrations greater than 15 wt. % formed a viscous solution that could not be uniformly dispersed, thus impeding electrospinning. Medium voltage 20KV was found to produce good fibers while flow rates of 0.5ml/h and above, produced non-uniform fibers with a wide range. Average fiber diameters of 104nm and 129nm were formed at 13 wt. % and 15 wt. % (0.4ml/h, 20KV) respectively.