Preparation and Characterization of PEG /P( VDF ‐ TrFE ) Electrospun Nanofiber Films

Abstract

ABSTRACT The electrospinning materials used in this study include a blend of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the copolymer poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) copolymer. The influence of process parameters on the nanofibers was analyzed, as these parameters play a crucial role in electrospinning. Characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and x‐ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to evaluate the morphology, thermodynamic properties, and crystallization behavior of the composite films. Under a spinning voltage of 15 kV, a spinning speed of 1 mL/h, and a receiving distance of 10 cm, the resulting composite fibers exhibited uniform distribution with consistent single‐fiber thickness. The composite nanofibers gradually bonded together with increasing PEG content. FTIR results indicate that the addition of PEG has no significant effect on β‐phase content. The decrease in melting temperature observed in the composite may be attributed to the “binding” effect between PEG and P(VDF‐TrFE) crystals. While disrupting the regularity of the molecular chain, PEG also acts as a plasticizer, enhancing flexibility within the chain structure and leading to an initial decrease followed by an increase in crystallinity for P(VDF‐TrFE). Consequently, PEG/P(VDF‐TrFE) exhibits a polar β phase.