Study of the Annealing Effect of Starch/Polyvinyl Alcohol Films Crosslinked with Glutaraldehyde.

Films were fabricated using a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/cassava starch and incorporated citric acid in a concentration range between 5% and 40%. The films were annealed through thermal treatment in a temperature range between 30 °C and 90 °C with 0.3% glutaraldehyde incorporated as the crosslinking agent. This study presents the results of an experimental design analyzed using the response surface methodology. The multiple regression analysis allowed us to obtain the second-order models, which relate the annealing factors and citric acid concentration to Maximum Tensile Strength (MTS), Young's Modulus (YM), and the Maximum Elongation at Break (MEB). The optimization and validation of the obtained model were carried out with error values below 10.08% for all the response variables, indicating that the response surface methodology and optimization were correct. Finally, as a complementary analysis, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests were carried out, which revealed a higher packaging of the heat-treated films and verified their crosslinking.

Statistical Optimization of the Sol-Gel Electrospinning Process Conditions for Preparation of Polyamide 6/66 Nanofiber Bundles.

Polymeric nanofibers are widely studied in the textile industry since with them, it is possible to get a great variety of functionalities. In this paper, polyamide 6/66 (PA 6/66) solutions at different concentrations (12, 17, and 22% wt.) were made, to get nanofibers through the basic electrospinning process which were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and productivity. Afterwards, nanofiber bundles were produced using the electrospinning sol-gel process, which were characterized by SEM and tensile test. From the results of statistical optimization based on one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc Tukey HSD, it was found that nanofiber bundles with higher productivity (1.39 ± 0.15 mg/min), draw ratio (9.0 ± 1.2), and tensile strength (29.64 ± 7.40 MPa) were obtained with a 17% concentration. Finally, a thermal characterization through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was done, finding evidence of a Tg and Tm reduction in the nanofibers in relation to PA 6/66 pellets and nanofiber bundles.