Fabrication and characterization of a novel polypropylene/poly(vinyl alcohol)/aluminum hybrid layered assembly for high‐performance fibrous insulation

Abstract

A novel hybrid layered assembly based on aluminum-coated poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers supported on a polypropylene (PP) web was fabricated via electrospinning and physical vapor deposition. The PVA nanofibers and coated aluminum were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicate that PVA nanofibers approximately 430 nm in diameter and an aluminum coating approximately 37 nm in thickness were successfully embedded on the supporting PP web. Fourier transform infrared spectra and the water vapor transmission rate were used to determine the IR spectral transmission and water vapor transmission through the materials with or without the nanofiber or metal coating, respectively. Compared to the uncoated PP web, the novel hybrid layered assembly showed a significant increase in thermal radiation extinction due to both the radiation reflection of the metal coating and the radiation absorption of the nanofibers without noticeable weight gain or water vapor permeable deterioration. This method represents a simple and practical approach for the production of a lightweight hybrid layered assembly that is highly beneficial in the efficient reduction of heat loss in low-density fibrous insulations without a noticeable deterioration in the water vapor permeability and that could be used for wide applications such as protective clothing, sleeping bags, building construction, and aircraft.

Electrospun nylon 6 fibrous membrane coated with rice-like TiO2 nanoparticles by an ultrasonic-assistance method

“…8c indicates that the WVTRs of the TiO 2 coated nylon 6 fibrous membranes were little increased compared with the WVTR of the electrospun nylon 6 fibrous membrane without TiO 2 coating. The WVTR of the rice-like TiO 2 coated nylon 6 fibrous membrane was higher than the WVTR of Al coated PVA fibrous membrane [12]. Because the novel TiO 2 coated nylon 6 fibrous membranes have significantly improved performance in blocking radiation without the blockage of water vapor transmission, it is expected to be highly beneficial for different kinds of protective clothing.…”

“…For clothing applications, such as face masks, bio-protective coveralls and inter-layers in clothing assembles, high permeability to moisture transmission is important to comfort [12,21]. In order to investigate the effect of rice-like TiO 2 coating on the moisture permeability of nylon 6 nanofibrous membrane, the moisture vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the membrane was measured according to British Standard BS7209 (1990).…”

“…Many of the man-made fibers are thermoplastic. Coating nanofibers can create materials of exceptional quality for catalysis, radiation shielding, and antimicrobial [10][11][12], as nanofibers have very large surface area to mass ratios. Recently, Drew et al [1] fabricated dendritic TiO 2 on polyacrylonitrile fibers with a solution method, but the method required a long process time (i.e.…”

Porous Materials with Thin Interlayers for Optimal Thermal Insulation

“…In further work, super-light micro-or nano-porous interlayers may be expected to be developed by sol-gel method, electrospinning, or electrospray techniques [12,[24][25][26][27] to block the heat radiation transfer for their application in highly porous materials. The finer fibres also have much more small pores which are permeable to water vapor so that they have better moisture permeability [28,29]. The finer fibres also have much more small pores which are permeable to water vapor so that they have better moisture permeability [28,29].…”

Effect of PVA Binder on the Mechanical Properties of Silk/Bamboo Paper-Reinforced PBS Green Composite

“…Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has good adhering properties, and is widely used as an adhesive and as a binder in textiles [8][9][10] and papers [11]. This study is largely concerned with finding a silk waste recycling method with a small environmental impact, so the final composite was required to be biodegradable.…”