Study of Process Parameters Affecting the Diameter and Morphology of Electrospun Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Nanofibers

Dhananjay D. Pise, Dr. B. B. Ahuja, Dr. S. M. Shendokar

Abstract: The recent developments in technology are to design and manufacture the devices of portable size with increase in efficiency, less energy consumption and more effectiveness. Fabrication of nanofibers of different polymer solution and their increasing use in wide range of applications is directing towards this. Out of different manufacturing techniques of nanofibers, electrospinning is the simple, more productive and low cost method. In this study, the nanofibers of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in solvent Dimethyl formamide (DMF) are spun with the help of electrospinning technique at different combination of input parameters such as concentration, voltage, flow rate and distance between collector and syringe tip. Taguchi method of design of experiments (L9) is used for combination of these input parameters. Further, the diameter and morphology of collected nanofibers are studied with the help of SEM images. The objective is being to study the effects of parameters and produce nanofibers of minimum diameter and defect free morphology by controlling the input parameters.

Keywords: Electrospinning, PVDF nanofibers, process parameters, SEM images