Characterization of electrospun nanofibers of cellulose nanowhisker/polyvinyl alcohol composites

Cellulose nanowhisker (CNW) isolated from hardwood bleached kraft pulp (HW-BKP) using sulfuric acid hydrolysis was suspended in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and electrospun into composites nanofibers. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the CNW to be rod-like, approximately of 16.1 ± 4.6 nm wide and 194 ± 61 nm long, providing an aspect ratio of about 12, with a particle size distribution range of 662.2 ± 301.2 nm. Uniform and high quality CNW/PVA composite nanofibers were successfully manufactured by the electrospinning method. As the CNW loading increases, the viscosity of CNW/PVA solutions shows a minimum at 1% CNW level which subsequently results in the smallest diameter (193 nm) of electrospun nanofibers. The average diameter of the nanofibers increased up to 284 nm with increasing CNW loading. These results suggest that the electrospinning method provides a great potential of manufacturing consistent and reliable nanofibers from CNW/PVA solution for the formation of scaffolds with potentials in future application.