Electrospinning of polymethyl methacrylate nanofibers: Optimization of processing parameters using the Taguchi design of experiments

Khanlou, H.M. and Ang, B.C. and Talebian, S. and Afifi, A.M. and Andriyana, A. (2015) Electrospinning of polymethyl methacrylate nanofibers: Optimization of processing parameters using the Taguchi design of experiments. Textile Research Journal, 85 (4). pp. 356-368. ISSN 0040-5175, DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517514547208.

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Abstract

The effects of polymer concentration and electrospinning parameters on the diameter of electrospun polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) fibers were experimentally investigated. It was also studied how the controlled factors would affect the output with the intention of finding the optimal electrospinning settings in order to obtain the smallest PMMA fiber diameter. Subsequently the solution feed rate, needle gauge diameter, supply voltage, polymer concentration and tip-to-collector distance were considered as the control factors. To achieve these aims, Taguchi's mixed-level parameter design (L-18) was employed for the experimental design. Optimal electrospinning conditions were determined using the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio that was calculated from the electrospun PMMA fiber diameter according to the-smaller-the-better approach. Accordingly, the smallest fiber diameter observed was 228 (+/- 76) nm and it was yielded at 15wt polymer concentration, 20kV of supply voltage, 1ml/h feed rate, 15cm tip-to-distance and 19 needle gauge. Moreover, the S/N ratio response showed that the polymer concentration was the most effective parameter on determination of fiber diameter followed by feed rate, tip-to distance, needle gauge and voltage, respectively. The Taguchi design of experiments method has been found to be an effective approach to statistically optimize the critical parameters used in electrospinning so as to effectively tailor the resulting electrospun fiber diameters and morphology.

Item Type:	Article
Funders:	University of Malaya UMRG RP021-2012B UMRG RP021-2012C , Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia through High Impact Research Grant MOHE-HIR D000008-16001
Additional Information:	Ca4yc Times Cited:0 Cited References Count:25
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Electrospinning parameters, fiber diameter, polymethyl methacrylate, taguchi method (design of experiments), optimization, diameter, morphology, fibers,
Subjects:	T Technology > T Technology (General) T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
Divisions:	Faculty of Engineering
Depositing User:	Mr Jenal S
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2015 04:47
Last Modified:	30 Dec 2015 04:08
URI:	http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/13829

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