3D modeling of filtration process via polyurethane nanofiber based nonwoven filters prepared by electrospinning process

Abstract

A B S T R A C TFull 3D particle filtration modeling at low pressures considering slip/transition/free molecular flow regime, particle-fiber interactions, air/particle slip, sieve and homogenous flow field has been performed for the polyurethane nanofiber filter prepared by electrospinning process and the obtained theoretical predictions for the filtration efficiency have been compared with the corresponding experimental data. Moreover, the effect of air velocity, viscosity, temperature, pressure and particlefiber friction coefficient on the produced polyurethane nanofiber filter efficiency has been investigated in more details. In order to take all real structure features of the nanofiber filter into account (such as varying fiber diameter, curvature along its length, inhomogeneity and mat defects), a new approach for 3D nano fiber mat model construction from corresponding SEM images has been proposed and utilized.

Electrospun Polyurethane Nanofibers

“…Electrospun nanofibers have great applicability for drug delivery applications [16,[96][97][98][99][100][101], medical implants [102], nanocomposites for dental restoration [103], preservation of bioactive agents [104,105], tissue engineering [12,106], wound dressing [21,43,82], biosensors [107,108], molecular separation [109], filters [45,110,111], and protective clothing [112][113][114]. Potential applications of electrospun PU nanofibers are discussed in depth below.…”

“…Sambaer et al [45], synthesized a PU based on 4,4′methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI), poly(3-methyl-1,5-pentanediol)-alt-(adipic, isophtalic acid) (PAIM) and 1,4 butanediol (BD) in molar ratio 9:1:8 at 90°C for 5 h. They used needless electrospinning apparatus and a supporting polyester fabric for collecting nanofibers with a speed of 0.16 m/min. Nanofibers were collected on the fabric with square ordering of electro conductive 9601 of fiber resistant, 95 g/m 2 of area mass, electro conductive 5 mm of thread distance.…”

“…Degradable and biocompatible aliphatic PU could also be formed into scaffolds via melt electrospinning [42]. Beside these biomedical applications, the PU nanofiber filters were prepared by electrospinning process based on 3D particle filtration modeling and some theoretical predictions were obtained for the filtration efficiency [45]. In another study, PU cationomers (PUCs) containing different amounts of quaternary ammonium groups were synthesized and electrospun into non-woven nanofiber mats for use in antimicrobial nanofilter applications [46].…”

Single Flexible Nanofiber to Simultaneously Realize Electricity-Magnetism Bifunctionality

“…This technique attracts extensive academic investigations, [1][2][3] and is also applied in many areas such as filtration, 4 optical and chemical sensors, 5 biological scaffolds 6 and electrode materials. 7 PANI is one of the most important conducting polymers because of its high electrical conductivity, good redox reversibility, processibility, and environmental stability 8,9 as well as its a variety of potential applications.…”

Simulation of Structural Characteristics and Depth Filtration Elements in Interconnected Nanofibrous Membrane Based on Adaptive Image Analysis

“…Sambaer et al [20] proposed a 3D structure model based on image analysis of a polyurethane nanofibre membrane. They investigated the filtration process in the slip, transition, and free molecular flow regimes while several factors such as particle-fibre interactions, airparticle slip, and sieve and homogenous flow field were considered.…”