Optimization of Nylon 6 electrospun nanofiber diameter in needle-less wire electrode using central composite design and response surface methodology

In this study, Nylon 6 nanofiber were prepared by needle-less wire electrospinning technique. Since, the fiber diameter determines the porosity, filtration efficiency, and mechanical properties of electrospun nanofiber mat, Central Composite Design (CCD) and Response Surface Methodology have been employed to design the experiments and evaluate the interactive effects of the operating variables such as concentration of the polymeric solution, the distance between two electrodes, applied voltage, and relative humidity (RH%) on the diameter of the Nylon 6 nanofiber. With this connection, an objective of this study was to find out the most influential variables for the finest nanofiber diameter during the spinning with wire type electrode to make the highest possible effective face mask without the addition of any functional additives in it. The overall results show that the combined effect of 12% polymer concentration, 65% RH, 155 mm distance between two electrodes, and 40 kV applied positive voltage have the strongest surface response and are the most significant than the other interactive effects. The Pareto chart illustrates the order of significance affecting the Nylon 6 nanofiber diameter in the order of concentration of the polymeric solution, RH%, the distance between electrodes, and applied positive voltage. Further, bacterial filtration efficiency% of the control sample and five-layer facemask incorporated with optimized nanofiber membrane was found to be 87.4% and 97.5%, respectively, against Staphylococcus Aureus ATCC 6538 bacteria.

Automated summary

This study prepared Nylon 6 nanofiber using needle-less wire electrospinning technique and evaluated the effects of operating variables on the fiber diameter. The results showed that polymer concentration, relative humidity, electrode distance, and applied voltage had significant effects on the fiber diameter. The optimized nanofiber membrane demonstrated high bacterial filtration efficiency against Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria, making it effective for face mask applications.