Morphology Characterization of Electrospun Polystyrene Membranes

The polymeric solution concentration is one of the most critical factors in forming of fibers in electrospinning technology. In this study, various polymeric concentrations of thermoplastic polystyrene are used. At the same time, keeping the other electrospinning process operating parameters (such as flow rate, voltage, capillary to collector distance), solution parameters (such as solution conductivity and molecular weight), and environmental conditions (such as temperature and humidity) constant. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the morphological changes that took place on the surface of the fibres and determine the typical fibre diameter. It was found that as the concentration of polystyrene increased from 15% to 30%, the average pore size increased from (0.5µm and 0.44µm) to (2.7µm and 2.6µm). The FT-IR demonstrated the main chemical bonds in polystyrene membranes and the change in peak intensity caused by increasing the polymeric concentration. According to contact angle measurements, which examine the change in hydrophobic properties, the hydrophobicity of membranes decreases as the water contact angle falls from 135 to 116 with increasing the polymeric concentration from 15% to 30%.