Investigation of properties of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/carbon nanotubes composite produced by electrospinning method

This work aims to develop and analyze ternary composite fibers based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), chitosan (Cs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) produced by the electrospinning technique. For this purpose a series of PVA/Cs blend fiber samples in varying weight ratios of PVA to Cs (0.75/1, 1/1, 1.5/1, 2.5/1, 2.8/1) were produced. The morphology of the fibers was examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing that the best blend was the 2.8/1 ratio. Subsequently, CNTs were incorporated into this blend at different weight percentages of 0.5, 1, and 2 %. To enhance the stability of the samples in aqueous environments, chemical crosslinking using glutaraldehyde (GA) vapor was employed. Characterization through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the compatibility of the composite components and the effectiveness of the crosslinking. Thermal analysis (TGA) indicated that the presence of CNTs increased the thermal resistance of the composite by 15 %. The results of tensile test showed a decrease in tensile strength with the addition of CNTs. Hydrophilicity was assessed through water contact angle measurements, which revealed a reduction in the contact angle from 83.1° for the PVA/Cs sample to 48.2° for the PVA/Cs/CNT-2 %wt sample.