Rheology of Poly(vinyl butyral) Solution Containing Fumed Silica in Correlation with Electrospinning

Abstract

The rheological properties in question are influenced by many factors, ranging from the characteristics of the given polymer or solvent to the flowing conditions. The primary focus of this study is to analyse the rheological behaviour of poly(vinyl butyral)—Mowital B 60H—(PVB) solutions dissolved in methanol and a blend of these with fumed silica nanoparticles. The preparation of the nanofibrous web and the quality of nanofibres were correlated with the rheology of the polymer solution. It was discerned that drastically intensifying shear viscosity and the elasticity of the solution exerted a negligible effect on the formation of fibres, a finding which has rarely been discussed in the literature. The morphologies and structures of the PVB/silica nanofibrous membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.