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Electrospinning of Polyaniline/Poly(Lactic Acid) Ultrathin Fibers: Process and Statistical Modeling using a Non‐Gaussian Approach
Author(s) -
Picciani Paulo H. S.,
Soares Bluma G.,
Medeiros Eliton S.,
de Souza Fernando G.,
Wood Delilah F.,
Orts William J.,
Mattoso Luiz H. C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular theory and simulations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-3919
pISSN - 1022-1344
DOI - 10.1002/mats.200900053
Subject(s) - electrospinning , nanofiber , materials science , fiber , factorial experiment , composite material , polyaniline , lactic acid , chemical engineering , computer science , polymer , machine learning , biology , bacteria , engineering , polymerization , genetics
Fibers of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blended with p‐toluenesulfonic acid‐doped polyaniline, PAni.TSA, were obtained by electrospinning, following a factorial design which was used mainly to study the effect of four process parameters (PLA solution concentration, PAni solution concentration, applied voltage, and flow rate) on fiber diameter. Due to the non‐Gaussian spread of the fiber diameters, probability density functions (PDF's) were used to describe them, and the main effect analysis was performed considering the most representative values of these PDF's. This study suggests that the main factor which governs the fiber dimension is the concentration of the PAni solution and its synergy with the others factors. Furthermore, in spite of the high complexity of the electrospinning process, the statistical model was able to describe the process with 95% confidence, therefore enabling one to precisely predict fiber diameter. Nanofiber formation was simulated using the results of the experimental design and validation tests were performed to minimize the fiber diameter.