I'm trying to obtain PVA nanofibers through electrospinning with 30 kV and a flow rate of 0.5 mL/h, but even after 5 hours, it wasn't possible to separate the PVA from the aluminum foil. What can i do?
Perform spinning at 15 kv and a flow rate of 1 ml/hr, preferably using a small collector. This thing should work. i forgot to mention use 12wt% solution (PVA in Water)
Hi Nicholas Capuccilli,
It depends on the which solvent and polymer concentration in the solution.
Generally for 7-8 wt.% of polymer solution you can use 16 kV of potential difference and 13 cm of distance between drum collector and tip of the needle and 0.8 ml/hr of flow rate.
See if you can optimize your spinning protocol (30kV seems to high), the better the spinning and hence the quality of the fiber, the easier is it to remove from the foil. Look at your mesh with a SEM, you might find further clues.
And do you need aluminum foil? Try if it release is easier with e.g. baking paper
Kiran Donthula I'm using 7 % PVA in water, i'll try to use the parameters that you said to see if it works. Thank you!!
Marc Simonet Do you think the flow rate also needs to be modified?
Marc Simonet, Will it work for any polymer if you increase the rotation speed of the collector and reduce the applied voltage? I am working with PLA and am facing the same problem where I am unable to separate the polymer from the aluminium foil even when I am only using 16 - 19 kV and the rotation speed of the drum is 50 rpm. My professor suggested me to try with the thin baking paper and see.
Thanks