The storage stability of polyvinylbutyral solutions from an electrospinnability standpoint

Abstract

The quality of electrospun fibres is subject to many factors ranging from the characteristics of the materials used to processing conditions. Although an important parameter for applicability, less attention has been paid to the storage stability of applied polymer solutions and its impact on the quality of electrospun webs. The aim of this study is to analyse the storage stability of polyvinylbutyral solutions in methanol and ethanol for the formation of undisturbed nanofibres. The quality of nanofibrous mats produced over a period of 197 days, during which the solutions were stored under constant conditions, was investigated. Using rheological measurements, SEM, FTIR, and DSC techniques, it was shown that the storage period for the solutions used had almost no influence on the quality of electrospun fibres, which is a positive result for practical use. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.