Effect of processing condition and polymer concentration on manufacturing of PET/ PVP fibrous membrane

Fibrous membrane were prepared by electrospinning technique using poly (ethylene terphetalate)(PET) dissolved in Trifluoroacetic acid(TFA)/Dichloromethane (DCM) with adding poly (vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) in different concentration (1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 20% wt PET/ wt PVP). The effect of processing conditions (voltage(22, 15, 10Kv) and flow rate(5, 3 ml/ hr)) and properties of solution (concentration of additive) on morphology, structure and hydrophilicity and mechanical properties of electrospun nonwovens were investigated by porosity test, SEM images and sodium chloride rejection test. Results showed that the spinnability of fiber increased with adding PVP. Water contact angel test showed that the membranes exhibit super hydrophilic properties only when the ration of PVP was 5%wt. increasing in voltage and flow rate were resulted to decreasing and increasing fiber diameters, respectively. The 5wt% fibrous membrane which spines in 22 Kv and Flow 3 ml/ hrexhibit uniform and smooth morphology. Additionally, this membrane had the best porosity and NaCl rejection due to the uniform and thinner fibers. This study Found that PVP can improved hydrophilic and mechanical properties of electrospun PET fibrous membrane which playes a main role in filtration process.

Keywords:

electrospinning-PET-PVP-blend-membrane