Valorization of Geothermal Silica Waste in the Fabrication of PVA-Based Nanofiber via Electrospinning: Morphological, Mechanical, and Surface Property Evaluation

Main Article Content

Kusno Isnugroho
Yusup Hendronursito
Tumpal O Rajagukguk
Rama Khadafi

บทคัดย่อ

This study explores the valorization of geothermal silica waste as a functional filler for the fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based nanofibers via electrospinning. Geothermal silica was processed through a sol–gel route and incorporated at varying weight fractions (0–7 wt%) into PVA solutions before electrospinning. The resulting nanofiber mats were characterized in terms of morphology, elemental composition, chemical structure, mechanical properties, and surface wettability using FESEM-EDS, FTIR, Vickers hardness testing, and water contact angle measurements. Silica incorporation influenced the nanofiber morphology, reducing the average fiber diameter to 170 nm at 5 wt% silica loading; however, excessive silica content promoted bead formation and fiber fusion due to limited silica dispersion within the PVA matrix. EDS and FTIR analyses confirmed the incorporation of geothermal-derived silica within the PVA nanofiber matrix. Mechanical evaluation revealed that 1 wt% silica loading exhibited the highest hardness value (20.36 HV), while higher silica concentrations reduced mechanical performance due to morphological defects and silica aggregation. Surface wettability analysis showed improved hydrophilic behavior with increasing silica loading up to 5 wt%, while excessive silica addition resulted in reduced wettability due to morphological heterogeneity. These findings demonstrate that geothermal silica waste can be successfully converted into functional PVA/silica nanofibers fcomposites, highlighting the importance of silica loading optimization to achieve balanced mechanical and surface properties for potential membrane-related applications and circular economy strategies.

Article Details

รูปแบบการอ้างอิง
Kusno Isnugroho, Yusup Hendronursito, Tumpal O Rajagukguk, & Rama Khadafi. (2026). Valorization of Geothermal Silica Waste in the Fabrication of PVA-Based Nanofiber via Electrospinning: Morphological, Mechanical, and Surface Property Evaluation. Science & Technology Asia, 31(3), 173–186. สืบค้น จาก https://ph02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SciTechAsia/article/view/268395
ประเภทบทความ
Engineering

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