Preparation and characterisation of surface roughened PMMA electrospun nanofibers from PEO - PMMA polymer blend nanofibers

Abstract

Poly(ethylene oxide) - poly(methyl methacrylate) (PEO – PMMA) polymer blend nanofibers, which is a rare combination in electrospinning field, prepared successfully with solvent mixture of chloroform and acetone. Majority of the produced fibers have diameter of 110 nm which is much finer than the existing results of 320 nm. The ultrafine PEO – PMMA nanofibers without phase separation is elucidated through structural and molecular analyses. TG-DTA analysis proved the thermal stability of sample. PEO is removed from the blend by selective dissolution to roughen the surface of PMMA nanofibers which is evidenced through SEM, FESEM, AFM and TEM analyses. The surface roughened PMMA nanofibers act as better host matrix for different nanoparticles, water pollutants etc. compared to pristine PMMA nanofibers. The selective dissolution method applied, instead of using ligands - the most common method-for importing surface roughness of PMMA nanofibers is economically more favourable and is also time saving.