Effect of spinning temperature and blend ratios on electrospun chitosan/poly(acrylamide) blends fibers

We report the formation of non-woven fibers without bead defects by electrospinning blend solutions of chitosan and polyacrylamide (PAAm) with blend ratios varying from 75 wt% to 90 wt% chitosan using a modified electrospinning unit wherein polymer solutions can be spun at temperatures greater than ambient up to 100 degrees C. Electrospinning at elevated temperature leads to further expansion of the processing window, by producing fibers with fewer defects at higher chitosan weight percentage in the blends. Effects of varying blend ratios, spinning temperatures, and molecular weights on fiber formation were studied and optimum conditions for formation of uniform non-woven fiber mats with potential applications for air and water filtration were obtained. Uniform bead-less fiber mats with fiber diameter as low as 307 +/- 67 nm were formed by spinning 90% chitosan in blend solutions at 70 degrees C. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.