Controlling the Secondary Surface Morphology of Electrospun PVDF Nanofibers by Regulating the Solvent and Relative Humidity.

ABSTRACT: This work presents a simple and reliable method for directly generating polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers with secondary surface morphology (e.g., porous surfaces, rough surfaces, grooved surfaces, and interior porosity) by using single/binary solvent systems and relative humidity. We clarified the mechanisms responsible for the formation of these morphologies by systematically exploring the molecular interactions among the polymer, solvent(s), and water vapor. Our results proved that the formation of secondary surface morphology needed the presence of water vapor, a non-solvent of the polymer, at an appropriate level of relative humidity. The formation of secondary surface morphology was dependent on the speed of evaporation of the solvent(s) (ACE, DMF, and their mixtures), as wel

SUBMITTER: Zaarour B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6135735 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature