Microstructural Study of Nylon-6/Gelatin Composite Nanofibers

Abstract

Electrospinning is a simple and effective technology for fabricating nanofibers and polymer blending provides strength and minimal defects of electrospun ones. Therefore, in the present study, fabrication, and characterization of nylon-6/gelatin electrospun nanofibers using low-toxic solvents was investigated as means to improve the morphological deficiencies of gelatin nanofibers and facilitate its electrospinnability. The morphology of electrospun nylon-6/gelatin nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM results showed that electrospun blend nanofibers had smooth surface with average diameter of from 40 to 100 nm; while, the miscibility of the blend and thermal behavior of nanofibers were determined using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Water contact-angle measurement (WCA) was employed to investigating the wettability of nanofibers.