Effect of ethanol post-treatment on the bubble-electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofiber

Abstract

Poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers were prepared by bubble electrospinning. After the ethanol post-treatment, poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers showed enhanced hydrophobicity with water contact angle change from 0 to 78.9°, and the break strength of poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers was dramatically improved from 8.23 MPa to 17.36 MPa. The facile strategy with improved hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers will provide potential benefits for applications of this material, especially in filtration field.