Investigation of the Influence of the Physicochemical Properties of PVP and PAN Solutions on the Structural Characteristics of Fiber Materials Formed During Electrospinning

ABSTRACT This article investigates the physicochemical properties of polymer solutions varying in molecular weight ( M w )—polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, M w = 30 and 360 kDa; concentrations 15–40 wt.%) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN, M w = 50 and 150 kDa; concentrations 3–15 wt.%) and their impact on electrospun fiber structures. Surface tension in PVP and PAN solutions proved independent of M w and concentration, owing to the polymers' surface‐inactive nature. Critical voltage—the minimum electric field strength triggering jet formation from the nozzle droplet for fiber collection—was calculated for all solutions. The needle‐collector distance most strongly influenced critical voltage. Electrospinning stability and fiber formation depend on polymer chain entanglement, governed by critical concentration. Solution viscosity critically determines fiber diameter, with a linear correlation observed between fiber diameter and viscosity for PVP‐ and PAN‐based materials.