PVA/zein nanofibers obtained by solution blow spinning

Immiscible and not fully miscible polymers are difficult to process into nanofibers. Nanofibers production techniques, such as solution blow spinning (SBS), come as alternatives to produce materials from PVA and zein. In this study, PVA/zein nanofibers were produced with the solution blow spinning (SBS) technique, while using an aqueous solution of 60% acetic acid as solvent. Nanofibers with different material contents were obtained with the fiber’s average diameters smaller than 300 nm. FTIR spectroscopy showed that the fibers contain both materials and that only physical interactions were present between the polymers. Wettability analysis showed that increasing the zein content in the nanofibers mats to over 37.5% changed the nanofibers mats from being hydrophilic to being hydrophobic. Water vapor permeability did not significantly change when varying the zein content, keeping it at a higher value due to the porous structure of the nanofibers mats. Erosion of the nanofibers mats was diminished with higher zein content, while the fungal susceptibility was enhanced. The results of this study made it possible to support the proposed degradation pathway for the produced nanofibers mats and expanding the range of applications for these materials.