Electrospun nanofibrous webs are important in nanotechnology applications due to their high surface area and interconnected porosity. In this study, the effect of electrospinning duration on some physical and mechanical properties of polyurethane (PU) electrospun webs is investigated for potential applications such as protective clothing and membranes. The results show that the thickness and weight of webs and subsequently their tensile strength increase linearly with the electrospinning duration. Air permeability of nanofibrous webs decrease and hydrostatic pressure increases nonlinearly while water vapor permeability remains constant. This work shows that air permeability of PU webs follows Fick's law of diffusion. Some regression models have been proposed to describe electrospun membranes behavior. The results of this investigation indicate that this new generation of nanofibrous materials has a good potential for application as membrane in protective clothing. V C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 125: [4135][4136][4137][4138][4139][4140][4141] 2012
Layered fabric systems with an electrospun nanofiber web layered onto a sandwich of woven fabric were developed to examine the feasibility of developing breathable barrier textile materials. Some parameters of nanofiber mats, including the time of electrospinning and the polymer solution concentration, were designed to change and barrier properties of specimens were compared. Air permeability, water vapor transmission, and water repellency (Bundesmann and hydrostatic pressure tests) were assessed as indications of comfort and barrier performance of different samples. These performances of layered nanofiber fabrics were compared with a well-known water repellent breathable multi-layered fabric (Gortex). Multi-layered electrospun nanofiber mats equipped fabric (MENMEF) showed better performance in windproof property than Gortex fabric. Also, water vapor permeability of MENMEF was in a range of normal woven sport and work clothing. Comparisons of barrier properties of MENMEF and the currently available PTFE coated materials showed that, those properties could be achieved by layered fabric systems with electrospun nanofiber mats.
Bi-functional nanofibrous membrane composed of polyurethane in one face and poly(2-acryloylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid)-graphene oxide (PAMPS-GO) in another face has been fabricated using two opposite-nozzle electrospinning set-up. The effect of graphene oxide addition on morphology of PAMPS nanofibers and performance of membrane were investigated. Besides structure of graphene oxide layers, electrospun nanofibers were studied using TEM, X-ray, FTIR, and FE-SEM methods. To evaluate the nanofibrous membrane performance, their tensile strength, water vapor permeability, and contact angle were measured. An average diameter of 500 nm and 83 nm were obtained for PU and PAMPS nanofibers, respectively, through the optimized electrospinning process. Results show that PAMPS nanofiber diameters together with pore sizes of its mat decrease by increasing the graphene oxide content. Also, the dimensional stability of electrospun fibers against water vapor was strengthened in the presence of graphene oxide nanosheets. An improvement in tensile strength of PAMPS nanofibers was observed by the addition of graphene oxide up to 0.2 wt.%, while more addition caused a negative change. Studying water vapor permeability of PAMPS nanofibers showed that increasing the graphene oxide content, the water vapor permeability increases. However, it decreases by increasing the surface density of nanofibers. From a hydrophobic–hydrophilic perspective, an excellent dual-mode behavior on two opposite faces was observed that is already proper for water proof-breathable protective clothing and wound dressing applications.
Electrospinning polyurethane has been utilized as skin wound dressing for protecting skin wounds from infection and thus facilitating their healings, but also limited by its imperfect biocompatibility, mechanical and antibacterial properties. This paper presents our study on the addition of graphene oxide to electrospinning polyurethane for improved properties, as well as its in vitro characterization. Polyurethane/graphene oxide wound dressing was electrospun with varying amount of graphene oxide (from 0.0% to 2.0%); and in vitro tests was carried out to characterize the wound dressing properties and performance from the structural, mechanical, and biological perspectives. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to confirm the interaction between graphene oxide particles and polyurethane fibers, while the scanning electron microscopy images further illustrated that the wound dressing was of a porous structure with fibre diameters depending on the amount of graphene oxide added; specifically, 20 to 180 nm were for composite polyurethane/graphene oxide fibers and 600 to 900 nm for pure polyurethane. Our results also revealed that the hydrophilicity and swelling properties of the wound dressing could be regulated by the amount of graphene oxide added to the polyurethane/graphene oxide composites. Mechanical, antibacterial, and cytotoxicity properties of the composite polyurethane/graphene oxide wound dressing were examined with the results illustrating that the addition of graphene oxide could improve the properties of the electrospun wound dressing. Combined together, our study illustrates that electrospinning polyurethane/graphene oxide composite is promising as skin wound dressing.
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