The softness of polypropylene (PP) fabrics, which is related to fiber properties and fabric structure, is a pivotal perception for their application in skin contacts. However, tailoring the softness of PP fabrics remains challenging. The effects of mixing different percentages of polyethylene (PE) and PP during the melt-blowing process on the polymer properties and morphology characteristics, including the softness, preparation, and characterization of the micro-nanofibrous fabrics were determined. Rheological tests and differential scanning calorimetry results showed that the addition of PE helped destroy the crystalline integrity of PP. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy images depicted a fluffy structure consisting of micro-nanofibers with average diameters ranging from 1.3 to 3.2 μm. Furthermore, the softness scores ranged from 70.39 to 83.11 by changing the die temperature and PE mass ratio by applying a response surface model. Consequently, this micro-nanofibrous fabric may become a good material for skin contacts, such as baby diapers, feminine sanitary, and other personal hygiene uses.
Polylactic acid (PLA) micro-nanofiber fabrics with a large specific surface area and excellent biodegradability are commonly used in oil/water separation; however, challenges remain due to their poor mechanical properties. Herein, a thermoplastic polylactic acid/propylene-based elastomer (PLA/PBE) polymer was prepared by blending PLA with PBE. Then, PLA/PBE micro-nanofiber fabrics were successfully prepared using a melt-blown process. The results show that the PLA/PBE micro-nanofiber fabric has a three-dimensional porous structure, improving the thermal stability and fluidity of the PLA/PBE blended polymers. The PLA/PBE micro-nanofiber fabric demonstrated a significantly reduced average fiber diameter and an enhanced breaking strength. Moreover, the water contact angle of the prepared samples is 136°, which suggests a hydrophobic capacity. The oil absorption rate of the fabric can reach 10.34, demonstrating excellent oil/water separation performance. The successful preparation of PLA/PBE micro-nanofiber fabrics using our new method paves the way for the large-scale production of promising candidates for high-efficacy oil/water separation applications.
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