The effects of electrospinning parameters on coaxial polyacrylonitrile/polyurethane nanofibers: Morphology and water vapour transmission rate

Functional core-shell structured composite mats were prepared by means of electrospinning two types of polymer solutions in a coaxial system. A series of core-shell structured nanofiber with various concentrations of a polyacrylonitrile (PAN, shell) and a polyurethane (PU, core) were investigated. By means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and tensile mechanical test, the resultant nanofibers were characterized. In addition, water vapour transmission rate (WVT) and pliability of the resulting nonwoven mats were measured. The results of this study is presented herein.