Electrospinning of cellulose acetate fibers from a ternary solvent system

Abstract

In this study, cellulose acetate fibers (CA) were prepared by the technique of electrospinning. A new ternary solvent mixture consisting of acetone / dichloromethane (DCM)/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at the ratio of 2/1/1 (v/v/v) was used in the electrospinning process. The suggested composition of solvents ensured continuous electrospinning of CA fibers, while other compositions of the same solvent system were not suitable to produce fibers. Smooth fibers with the mean diameter of 241 ± 92 nm were obtained by the solvent system containing more than 11% (w/v) of CA. The morphology and diameter of electrospun CA fibers were highly dependent on the concentration of CA solution.