Use of Electrospun Nanofiber Web for Protective Textile Materials as Barriers to Liquid Penetration

Abstract

To examine the potential of electrospun nanofibrous webs as barriers to liquid penetration in protective clothing systems for agricultural workers, layered fabric systems with electrospun polyurethane fiber web layered on spunbonded nonwoven were developed. Barrier performance was evaluated for the layered fabric systems with different levels of electrospun web area density, using three pesticide mixtures that represent a range of surface tension and viscosity. Effects of electrospun web density on air permeability and water vapor transmission were assessed as indications of thermal comfort performance. Pore size distribution was measured to examine the effect of electrospun fiber web layers on pore size. Penetration testing showed that a very thin layer of electrospun polyurethane web significantly improved barrier performance for challenge liquids with a range of physicochemical properties. Air permeability decreased with increasing electrospun web area density, but was still higher than most of protective clothing materials currently available. No significant change was observed in moisture vapor transport of the system from electrospun nanofibrous web layers. Pore size distribution measurements indicated the feasibility of engineering pore size via the level of electrospun web area density, hence, controlling the level of protection and thermal comfort of layered fabric systems depending on their need.

Keywords

electrospinning nanotechnology protective clothing barrier performance thermal comfort

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Gibson, P. , Schreuder-Gibson, H. , and Rivin, D. , Transport Properties of Porous Membranes Based on Electrospun Nanofibers, Colloids Surf. A Physicochem. Eng. Asp. 187, 469— 481 (2001).

Kim, J.-S. , and Reneker, D.H. , Mechanical Properties of Composites using Ultrafine Electrospun Fibers, Polym. Compos. 21(1), 124—131 (1999).

Li, W.-J. , Laurencin, C.T. , Caterson , E.J. , Tuan, R.S. , and Ko , F.K. , Electrospun Nanofibrous Structure: A Novel Scaffold for Tissue Engineering, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. A 60(4), 613—621 (2002).

Wang, X. , Drew, C. , Lee, S.-H. , Senecal, K.J. , Kumar, J. , and Samuelson, L.A. , Electrospinning Technology: A Novel Approach to Sensor Application, J. Macromol. Sci. A Pure Appl. Chem. A39(10), 1251—1258 (2002).

Lee, K.H. , Kim, H.Y. , Ryu , Y.J. , Kim , K.W. , and Choi, S.W. , Mechanical Behavior of Electrospun Fiber Mats of Poly(vinyl chloride)/polyurethane Polyblends, J. Polym. Sci. B Polym. Phys. 41, 1256—1262 (2003).

Buer, A. , Ugbolue, S.C. , and Warner, S.B. , Electrospinning and Properties of Some Nanofibers, Textile Res. J. 71(4), 323— 328 (2001).

Deitzel, J.M. , Kleinmeyer, J. , Harris , D. , and Beck Tan, N.C. , The Effect of Processing Variables on the Morphology of Electrospun Nanofibers and Textiles , Polymer 42, 261—272 ( 2001).

Schreuder-Gibson, H. , Gibson, P. , Senecal , K. , Sennett, M. , Walker, J. , Yeomans, W. , Ziegler, D. , and Tsai, P.P. , Protective Textile Materials Based on Electrospun Nanofibers, J. Adv. Mater. 34(3), 44—55 (2002 ).

Lee, S. , and Obendorf, S.K. , Developing Protective Textile Materials as Barriers to Liquid Penetration using Melt-electrospinning, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 102(4), 3430—3437 (2006).

10.

Grafe, T. , and Graham, K. , Polymeric Nanofibers and Nanofiber Webs: A New Class of Nonwovens , in “International Nonwovens Technical Conference ,” Atlanta, GA, USA ( 2002).

11.

Pedicini, A. , and Farris, R.J. , Mechanical Behavior of Electrospun Polyurethane , Polymer 44, 6857—6862 ( 2003).

12.

Träubel, H. , Ehlert, H. , Toepsch, H. , Müller, F. , and Dahm, M. , Polyurethanes for Textile, Paper and Leather , in “ Polyurethane Handbook,” Hanser Publishers, Munich, Germany, p. 575 (1994).

13.

Lee, S. , and Obendorf, S.K. , Barrier Effectiveness and Thermal Comfort of Protective Clothing Materials, J. Textile Inst. 98(2), 87—97 (2007 ).

14.

Lee, S. , and Obendorf, S.K. , A. Statistical Model to Predict Pesticide Penetration Through Nonwoven Chemical Protective Fabrics, Textile Res. J. 71(11), 1000—1009 (2001).

15.

Lee, S. , and Obendorf, S.K. , Statistical Model of Pesticide Penetration Through Woven Work Clothing Fabrics, Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 49(2), 266—273 ( 2005).