Issue 20, 2013

Novel fluorinated polyurethane decorated electrospun silica nanofibrous membranes exhibiting robust waterproof and breathable performances

Abstract

Novel inorganic nanofibrous membranes with robust waterproof and breathable performances were prepared by dip-coating of synthesized fluorinated polyurethane (FPU) on free-standing electrospun silica nanofibrous (SNF) membranes. By employing the FPU incorporation, the wettability of the as-prepared SNF/FPU membranes can be dramatically changed from the superamphiphilicity to amphiphobic, meanwhile, a plausible interaction between the water droplets and composite membranes was proposed. Additionally, the mechanical property of SNF/FPU membranes can be finely controlled by regulating FPU concentrations and the diameter of silica nanofibers, and the tensile fracture process of SNF/FPU membranes was discussed. The quantitative porous analysis using the N2 adsorption method has confirmed the correlation between the adhesion structure and wettability for the modified membranes. Furthermore, the SNF/FPU membranes exhibited good air permeability (54.04 mm s−1), high hydrostatic pressure (13.5 kPa), and comparable tensile strength (15.2 MPa), suggesting a promising candidate for protective clothing, bioseparation, water purification, tissue engineering and catalyst carriers, etc.

Graphical abstract: Novel fluorinated polyurethane decorated electrospun silica nanofibrous membranes exhibiting robust waterproof and breathable performances

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Dec 2012
Accepted
06 Mar 2013
First published
07 Mar 2013

RSC Adv., 2013,3, 7562-7569

Novel fluorinated polyurethane decorated electrospun silica nanofibrous membranes exhibiting robust waterproof and breathable performances

X. Mao, Y. Chen, Y. Si, Y. Li, H. Wan, J. Yu, G. Sun and B. Ding, RSC Adv., 2013, 3, 7562 DOI: 10.1039/C3RA23326J

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