Abstract
In this study, the layered nanoclay was employed to impart ultraviolet (UV) protection functionality for electrospinning thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofibrous mats. This study is among the very rare studies which uses Montmorillonite (MMT) clay for UV protection. Due to its known UV protection property, titanium dioxide (TiO2) was used solely for comparison with MMT clay and as a blend with MMT for investigation of its synergetic effect with nanoclay. The morphology and chemical structure of virgin and nanoclay-loaded nanofibers were characterized via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Incorporation of TiO2 significantly improved UV protection performance of TPU electrospun nanofibers, as expected. UV protection factor (UPF) of electrospun mats including nanoclay was found as high as that of the ones including TiO2.Therefore, the study revealed that the clay has a considerable potential for producing nanofibrous layers with UV protection. Such a nanocomposite structure could be potentially employed as a layer in a multilayered technical textile such as tents, sun protective covers for automobiles, blind curtains, etc. This study proposed an eco-friendly and viable alternative to TiO2 which is a well-known material for its UV protection.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4118S-4132S |
Journal | Journal of Industrial Textiles |
Volume | 51 |
Issue number | 3_suppl |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s) 2021.
Funding
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by Istanbul Technical University Scientific Research Project Office under the project number “BAP 36171”.
Funders | Funder number |
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Istanbul Technical University Scientific Research Project Office | BAP 36171 |
Keywords
- electrospinning
- nanoclay
- Thermoplastic polyurethane
- TiO
- UV protection