Multi-response analysis in the processing of poly (methyl methacrylate) nano-fibres membrane by electrospinning based on response surface methodology: Fibre diameter and bead formation

• The results provide effective guidelines to choose the best parameter settings.
• The FCCD design of response surface methodology was used to evaluate parameters.
• Conclude the optimum conditions to make uniform PMMA fibres membrane.
• Identified optimum electrospinning conditions from multiple response models.
• Conducted confirmation tests to show the application validity of statistical models.

The fabrication of the nano-scale fine fibres from poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-DMF solution was completed using the electrospinning process. Significantly, fibre membranes with an average diameter of 95 (±32) nm and bead number 11 (±2) were successfully achieved. The extensive analysis of the distribution of fibre diameters and bead formation was performed using different needle gauge, collector distance, voltage, concentration, feed rate and molecular weight by observing images in FESEM after explanation of regression. A regression model was applied to realize the dominant factors on the responses, from this model, the molecular weight was excluded to successfully obtain the final objective with lesser number of experimental runs. Design-expert software was utilized to set up the groundwork for the response surface methodology (RSM). Moreover, the validity of the optimized electrospinning factors was confirmed by experiment. Furthermore, the process conditions intended for the electrospinning of PMMA could be selected perfectly accordance with the model used in this work.

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