Fabrication and characterization of polyurethane electrospun nanofiber membranes for protective clothing applications

Electrospun nanofibrous webs are important in nanotechnology applications due to their high surface area and interconnected porosity. In this study, the effect of electrospinning duration on some physical and mechanical properties of polyurethane (PU) electrospun webs is investigated for potential applications such as protective clothing and membranes. The results show that the thickness and weight of webs and subsequently their tensile strength increase linearly with the electrospinning duration. Air permeability of nanofibrous webs decrease and hydrostatic pressure increases nonlinearly while water vapor permeability remains constant. This work shows that air permeability of PU webs follows Fick's law of diffusion. Some regression models have been proposed to describe electrospun membranes behavior. The results of this investigation indicate that this new generation of nanofibrous materials has a good potential for application as membrane in protective clothing. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Determination of poisson's ratio for polyimide films

The Poisson's ratios of polyamic acid and polyimide films were determined using a high pressure gas dilatometer. In this technique, a sample is held at constant length and a hydrostatic pressure is applied to the sample. The resulting change in stress on the sample with applied pressure provides a measure of Poisson's ratio. For fully cured polyimide films based on pyromellitic dianhydride and oxydianiline, Poisson's ratio was measured to be 0.34 at approximately 1% strain. This value increases to 0.48 as the strain is increased to 5%.     

Nonlinear finite element analysis of the butt-joint elastomer specimen

The practical strength of a butt-joint specimen is of great importance to many industrial applications such as adhesive joints, elastomer mountings, flexible couplings, etc. A butt-joint specimen could fail either cohesively or interfacially, depending on the strength of the materials and the stress distribution in the specimen. In the past, engineering design has been based either on theoretical linear analysis or on empirical rules of thumb. A more realistic analysis based on the nonlinear finite element (FE) method is presented here. The elastomer layer in the butt-joint specimen is modeled by a modified Ogden-Tschoegl strain energy function. The nonlinear axisymmetric FE program is formulated on the total Lagrangian procedure. The nominal strain, the thickness of the rubber layer, the compressibility (or Poisson's ratio), and the strain-hardening (or softening) parameter are taken as the variables in the analysis. The maximum radial and axial stresses are found along the central axis, while the maximum shear stress is near the corner of the bond plane and the free lateral surface. The stiffness as a function of the apparent strains is obtained for various thicknesses, various Poisson's ratios, and various strain-hardening parameters. The lateral contraction and the volume dilatation of the specimen are also calculated and related to the stress distribution in the specimen. A well-defined peak load occurs at a critical strain for thin specimens made of materials with a low strain-hardening parameter and high Poisson's ratio values.     

Effects of voids on the response of a rubber poker chip sample. III

The effects of voids on the response of a rubber poker chip sample are examined. A theoretical estimation of the diametral contraction of the sample was performed, using the linear theory of stress analysis. Experimental measurements of the lateral contraction at the middle plane of the poker chip elastomer specimen have shown that the testing rubber is not incompressible. By comparing the experimental data with the theoretical predicted equation, the value of the Poisson's ratio v_eff was found to be 0.487, for a given aspect ratio a* of the sample. A theoretical equation for the volume dilatation of the poker chip rubber sample was developed. Using the given aspect ratio, the value of v_eff, and the experimental stress/strain curve of the sample, an estimation of the volume dilatation was formed. The effective Poisson's ratio was also found using the linear stress analysis, by comparing the developed mathematical equations for an incompressible rubber with voids with a compressible one.     

Poisson's ratio for rigid plastic foams

Poisson's ratio for several low-density plastic foams has been determined in both tension and compression. For polystyrene bead foams and a polyurethane foam, Poisson's ratio is greater in tension than compression. In compression, Poisson's ratio is not linear, showing a larger value below the yield strain and a value near zero for high strains. For 0.05 and 0.10 g/cc polystyrene bead foam, Poisson's ratios are 1/3 in tension and 1/4 in compression below the yield strain; at higher strains, the value in compression is in the range 0.03–0.07.     

Study on the Viscoelastic Poisson‘s Ratio of Solid Propellants Using Digital Image Correlation Method

Digital image correlation methods were used for further studies of the viscoelastic Poisson's ratio of solid propellants. The Poisson's ratio and the Young's relaxation modulus of solid propellants were separately determined in a single stress relaxation test. In addition, the effects of temperature, longitudinal strain, preload and storage time on the Poisson's ratio of solid propellants were discussed. The Poisson's ratio master curve and the Young's relaxation modulus master curve were constructed based on the time‐temperature equivalence principle. The obtained results showed that the Poisson's ratio of solid propellants is a monotone non‐decreasing function of time, the instantaneous Poisson's ratio increased from 0.3899 to 0.4858 and the time of the equilibrium Poisson's ratio occurred late when the temperature was varied from −30 °C to 70 °C. The Poisson's ratio increased with temperature and longitudinal strain, decreased with preload and storage time, while the amplitude Poisson's ratio increased with preload, decreases with longitudinal strain and storage time. The time of the equilibrium Poisson's ratio occurred in advance with the increase of longitudinal strain, preload and storage time.     

Effect of coating thickness on the stress profile at the epoxy/silicone interface subjected to pull-off loading: A finite element analysis

Previous experimental studies of silicone coatings have shown three distinct types of release behavior in the tensile flat punch test, depending on coating thickness. The mechanical response in the punch test is highly dependent upon the Poisson's ratio of the coating and its confinement ratio (punch radius divided by coating thickness). This study developed a high accuracy finite-element model of the punch test using the adaptive p-method with extensive mesh refinement to produce smooth stress profiles up to the punch edge. Stress distributions were found for a wide range of confinement parameters and Poisson's ratios. At a typical Poisson's ratio of 0.49, the highest center stress occurred for the intermediate thickness coatings—not thin or thick. Also, the thickest coatings demonstrated steadily increasing high stress towards the edge, while other thicknesses showed the steep singularity at the edge with a protective stress depression bordering inside it. The results further help explain why the critical pull-off force continues to increase as the thickness decreases, even with different release mechanisms. The stress profiles for thick coatings have almost no sensitivity to Poisson's ratio, unlike other thicknesses which show high sensitivity. Edge peeling is most likely to occur for all thick coatings, while other debonding modes are most likely for thin and intermediate thickness coatings. Together, results show the stress mechanics of the flat punch test follow three distinct types of confinement.     

Synthesis of polymeric electrospun nanofibers for application in waterproof‐breathable fabrics

This study focuses waterproof‐breathable fabric development by applying electrospun web of polyurethane (PU), PAN, and PES directly onto the substrate fabric. Advantages of textile fabrics of elastomeric nanofibrous membranes over gortex specimen are the mass production feasibility, high elastomeric properties, more body comfort parameters, and fabric production without holes and needle traces formation. In this work, we identified the PU nanofibrous membrane as the best and useful web for application in waterproof‐breathable fabrics. Air permeability, water vapor transport rate, and resistance to water penetration average value for the prepared PU fibers web (sample of S1) were about 10 ml/s, 430 g/m²/24 h, 15 cm H₂O. To improve waterproof‐breathable characteristics of the membrane, the effects of electrospinning parameters on the fibers morphology and waterproof‐breathable characteristics were investigated. PU concentration of 12% (w/w) and electrospinning voltage of 12 kV were identified as optimal conditions to reach uniform and fine PU nanofibers formation without any beads. Air permeability, water vapor transport rate, and resistance to water penetration average value for the final sample were recorded as about 2.5 ml/s, 840 g/m²/24 h, and 44 cm H₂O, correspondingly. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 56:143–149, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Time,temperature, and strain effects on viscoelastic Poisson's ratio of epoxy resins

Poisson's ratio of polymeric materials, although generally assumed as a constant, is known to display a viscoelastic dependence on time, temperature, and strain. This article investigates the phenomenology of this dependence on two crosslinked epoxy systems with different glass transition temperatures. Poisson's ratio measurements are performed by contact extensometers simultaneously measuring the axial and transverse deformations under two different tensile testing conditions: (i) constant deformation rate, in which the effects of strain, strain rate, and temperature are highlighted; (ii) stress relaxation (or constant deformation), where the dependence of Poisson's ratio on time is studied at various strain levels. The viscoelastic Poisson's ratio increases as strain, temperature, and time increases, with trends markedly depending on the materials glass transition. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

PMIA@PVDF同轴电纺纤维膜的制备及其油水分离性能研究

以聚间苯二甲酰间苯二胺(PMIA)为芯、聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)为壳,使用22-17G同轴静电纺丝针头制备不同纺丝液芯壳流速比的PMIA@PVDF同轴电纺纤维膜,对纤维膜的芯壳结构、力学性能、热性能及油水分离性能进行了表征.结果表明:在纺丝液芯壳流速比为3:5时,PMIA@PVDF同轴电纺纤维膜具有理想的表面形貌和芯壳结...     

Properties of Adhesives and their Applications

The stress analysis of an adhesively bonded lap joint requires more information on the mechanical properties of adhesives than it is normally furnished by the manufacturers. For this reason the tests were performed on the three types of adhesives covering a large range of properties. In order to get the true stress-strain curves in tension and compression the change in the Poisson's Ratio with strain was investigated. It was found that the Poisson's Ratio increases almost to the constant volume deformation value until the nonrecoverable deformation sets in. From that point the Poisson's Ratio begins to decrease. Considering only the range of the recoverable deformation, the computer programs developed for the stress analysis of metallic materials can be used for an adhesively bonded lap joint. The recoverable viscoelastic deformation was considered non linear elastic and by applying an effective stress-effective strain relationship the analysis was performed.     

Effects of Nylon 6,6 nanofibrous mats on thermal properties and delamination behavior of high performance CFRP laminates

Nylon 6,6 electrospun nanofibrous membranes interleaved in “high performance” Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates have been proposed as a means to provide a high threshold value to delamination on structural sites where composites are more prone to develop such failure. A model, highly crosslinked, thus inherently brittle, epoxy matrix was selected for its high Young's modulus and glass transition temperature exceeding 250°C. The influence of the Nylon 6,6 nanofibers on the curing behavior of the matrix and on the thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of the cured resin was investigated. These properties were related to the features of the epoxy resin and of the resin impregnated nanofibrous mat. Finally, the delamination behavior of the composite laminates interleaved with Nylon interleaves with different thicknesses was studied through Mode I delamination tests on Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) samples. The results show that the initial Mode I fracture toughness was increased up to about 50% by the presence of the thin mat interleaf. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1303–1313, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A Simple Dilatometric Method for Determining Poisson's Ratio of Nearly Incompressible Elastomers

Abstract

A simple apparatus which was developed for measuring the dilatation of specimens tested in uniaxial tension is described. The dilatometer can be used on an Instron testing machine. In spite of its simplicity, this dilatometer enables an accurate determination of Poisson's ratio of nearly incompressible elastomers. We present typical curves showing the effect of strain on Poisson's ratio of filled and unfilled elastomers. We also describe the dilatometric processes observed during straining of granular filled elastomers.     

Effective volume changes during fatigue and fracture of polyacetal

Conventional tensile dilatometry techniques are extended to cyclic fatigue applications to study volume changes that occur during controlled-load cyclic fatigue of polyacetal. During fatigue, in-situ measures of the irreversible and elastic volume change are monitored together with dynamic viscoelastic parameters (E′, E″, and Tan δ), and changes in the energy densities (strain energy, potential energy, and irreversible work). The results show that the effective irreversible volume of the polyacetal gradually increases over a wide range of applied cyclic stress. However, at high stress levels and/or frequencies (i.e., low-cycle, thermally dominated regime), the effective Poisson's ratio of the polyacetal increases as it softens (evidenced by the dynamic viscoelastic data). Conversely, at lower stress levels, the Poisson's ratio continually decreases coincident with decreases in the loss modulus (E″) and the irreversible work density. These results are indicative of entirely different mechanisms governing the low-cycle (high stress level) and high-cycle (low stress) regimes. Also, comparisons between tensile and fatigue dilatometry studies show that the dilational-strain response of samples fatigued at high stress levels are similar to data obtained from monotonic tensile dilatometry. However, the dilationstrain response of samples fatigued at lower stress levels are distinctly different from low-cycle fatigue and tensile dilatometry.     

Breathable properties of m‐Aramid nanofibrous membrane with high thermal resistance

Electrospinning of m‐aramid in dimethyl acetamide/LiCl solution was investigated to develop thermo‐resistant nanofibrous membranes for breathable waterproof materials. The m‐aramid nanofibers were continuously generated and densely mounted to the membrane without the blockage of the spinning tip during electrospinning. In order to obtain the electrospun m‐aramid nanofibers with different fiber diameters, the polymer concentration in the solution and the spinning distance were varied. Electrospun m‐aramid nanofibrous membranes of various fiber diameters and thicknesses were prepared, and then compared with two commercial expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes with respect to water vapor permeability and pore size. The m‐aramid nanofibrous membrane showed a good water vapor permeability that satisfied the criterion of a breathable membrane, higher than those of the ePTFE porous membranes. Therefore, m‐aramid nanofibrous membrane with thermal and mechanical resistance has great potential for breathable waterproof materials and filters. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41515.     

Characterization and cell response of electrospun Rana chensinensis skin collagen/poly(l‐lactide) scaffolds with different fiber orientations

Collagen was extracted from Rana chensinensis skin supplied from byproducts via an acid enzymatic extraction method. The R. chensinensis skin collagen (RCSC) and poly(l ‐lactide) (PLLA) were blended at a 3:7 ratio in 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) at a concentration of 10% (g/mL) and electrospun to produce nanofibers in an aligned and random orientation. For comparison, pure PLLA nanofibrous membranes with aligned and random nanofiber orientations were also produced. The secondary structure of the RCSC nanofibers was investigated by circular dichroism to confirm that the extracted substance was collagen. The presence of collagen in the blend nanofiber was verified by LSCM. The blended nanofibers showed uniform, smooth, and bead‐free morphologies and presented a smaller fiber diameter (278 and and 259 nm) than the pure the ones of PLLA (559 and and 439 nm) nanofibers. It was found that the addition of RCSC and the modification of the nanofiber's orientation affected the fiber's diameter and the crystallization of PLLA. The cell viability studies with human fibroblast cells demonstrated that the RCSC/PLLA nanofibrous membranes formed by electrospinning exhibited good biocompatibility and that the aligned scaffolds could regulate the cell morphology by inducing cell orientation. The empirical results in this study indicated that the aligned RCSC/PLLA nanofibrous membrane is a potential wound dressing candidate for skin regeneration. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45109.     

Cocontinuous cellulose acetate/polyurethane composite nanofiber fabricated through electrospinning

Cocontinuous cellulose acetate (CA)/polyurethane (PU) composite nanofibers were obtained through electrospinning of partially miscible CA and PU in 2:1 N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc)/acetone mixture solvent. Their structures, mechanical, and thermal properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The structures and morphologies of the nanofibers were affected by component ratio in the binary mixtures. PU component not only facilitated the electrospinning of CA at CA concentration down to 12 wt%, but reinforced the tensile strength of CA/PU nanofibrous mats, while semirigid component CA in the composite nanofibers could greatly improve the rigidity and dimensional stability of CA/PU nanofibrous mats. In a series of nanofibrous mats with varied CA/PU composition ratios, CA/PU 20/80 showed excellent tensile strength and Young's modulus. The residual product after selective removal of any one of the components in CA/PU composite nanofibers by washing with proper solvent maintained the fiber structure but greatly reduced the fiber size, suggesting CA/PU composite fibers showed a cocontinuous nanofiber structure due to phase separation in the spinning solution and in the course of electrospinning. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of annealing on the optical and mechanical properties of cold drawn polypropylene fibres

Refractive indices and birefringence changes with strain produced by different stresses in annealed and unannealed polypropylene fibres (4 : 1 draw ratio, 515 tex polypropylene from Bolton, UK) were measured interferometrically. Calculations were carried out using multiple-beam Fizeau fringes in transmission to determine the Cauchy's constants, dispersive coefficient and the dielectric constant at infinity. The orientation factor and orientation angle of the fibre material were calculated for different strain values. Poisson's ratio and the strain optical coefficient were also determined. An empirical formula is suggested to correlate the orientation factor, orientation angle, area of cross-section and birefringence with the draw ratio, and the constants of this formula were determined. The effect of the draw ratio on the refractive index profile was studied. Microinterferograms and curves are given as illustrations.     

Characterisation of mechanical properties of thin polymer films using a bi-axial tension based on blow-up test

Abstract

Blow-up tests were carried out to evaluate mechanical properties of the thin Nylon film used as bagging films. A new method for calculating bi-axial stress and strain of the thin film in blow-up tests was developed based on the theory of membrane with large strain solutions. The bi-axial tensile elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, yield strength, fracture stress and bi-axial stress–strain relationship of the thin Nylon film were obtained. Meanwhile, uni-axial tensile tests were conducted and the results were compared with those from blow-up tests. For the Richmond HS-8171 thin Nylon film studied, the bi-axial tensile elastic modulus was slightly more than 2 times greater than the uni-axial tensile elastic modulus. The yield strength was the same for both bi-axial and uni-axial tension. The bi-axial fracture stress was about one-third greater than the uni-axial one, while the bi-axial failure strain was about two-thirds greater than the uni-axial counterpart.