Using the Taguchi method to investigate the effect of different parameters on mean diameter and variation in PA-6 nanofibres produced by needleless electrospinning

• Published in: RSC advances 2015-01, Vol.5 (94), p.76892-76897
• Main Authors: Nazir, A, Khenoussi, N, Schacher, L, Hussain, T, Adolphe, D, Hekmati, A. H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carrier density; Electrodes; Electrospinning; Fibre; Nanofibers; Standard deviation; Substrates; Taguchi methods
• ISSN: 2046-2069; 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra13649k

Employing different types of fibre generators, needleless electrospinning gives much higher fibre production rates as compared to needle-based techniques. In the present study, the effect of various process parameters on the mean diameter and variation in PA-6 nanofibers produced by the needleless electrospinning method, was investigated. Based on the Taguchi design and analysis of experiments, it was concluded that polymer concentration is the most influential factor affecting the mean fibre diameter, followed by distance between the electrodes, air flow, substrate speed, polymer carrier speed and the voltage difference. Mean fibre diameter and standard deviation were found to increase with increase in polymer concentration, polymer carrier speed and the collector substrate speed. With the help of the Taguchi method, it was not only possible to rank different factors in the order of their magnitude of effect on mean fibre diameter but also to find the optimum factor levels for minimum fibre diameter with minimum standard deviation. Employing different types of fibre generators, needleless electrospinning gives much higher fibre production rates as compared to needle-based techniques.