Study of an Electrospinning Process Using Orthogonal Array

Abstract

Electrospinning represents a straightforward and adaptable technique for producing polymer-based nanofibers. However, many studies lack systematic approaches and fail to provide quantitative accuracy in describing electrospinning process parameters. This often leads to contradictory or inconsistent findings, highlighting the need for orthogonal methods to thoroughly investigate the qualitative and quantitative relationships between fiber characteristics and various processing and material parameters. In this study, polystyrene (PS) was employed using the mixture of N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a solvent, with its applied voltage, nozzle-to-collector distance, PS concentration, and flow rate parameters to be explored using an orthogonal array. Utilizing an L9 (3⁴) orthogonal array design, experiments were conducted with varying electrospinning parameters. The results demonstrated that PS concentration had the greatest influence on the uniformity of fiber diameter, 63%. At the same time, too low PS concentration also led to fibers with irregular beads. This research contributes significantly to the production of uniform fibers with high utility in the field of pollution treatment and medical applications.