Application of melt-blown technology in the manufacturing of a solvent vapor-sensitive, non-woven fabric composed of poly(lactic acid) loaded with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

作者：Krucinska Izabella^*; Surma Beata; Chrzanowski Michal; Skrzetuska Ewa; Puchalski Michal

来源：Textile Research Journal, 2013, 83(8): 859-870.

DOI：10.1177/0040517512460293

• melt-blown
• poly(lactic acid)
• carbon nanotubes
• conductive polymer composites

We evaluated a solvent vapor-sensitive, non-woven fabric made from a biodegradable, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) polymer loaded with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The sensory properties of the fabric were obtained by optimizing the process parameters for manufacturing the melt-blown, non-woven fabric composed of 98% PLA 4060D (Nature Works) and 2% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Nanocyl (R)). The diffusion of polar and non-polar solvent molecules influenced the electron flow between the separated carbon nanotubes in percolation paths built into the PLA, resulting in an increase of the resistance of the melt-blown, non-woven fabrics. The statistically significant differences between the mean values of electrical resistance before and after the influence of the tested solvent vapors were achieved for the non-woven fabrics manufactured at high air velocity and low extruder screw speed, taking the values of 30 m(3)/h and 20 rpm, respectively. The results obtained for the non-woven fabric manufactured in the optimal conditions show that methanol vapor response has the lowest amplitude of 15%, whereas for benzene, acetone and toluene sensitivity reaches values of 60%, 40%, and 35%, respectively. The values of the relative resistance amplitude correspond with Flory-Huggins interaction parameters kappa(PLA\benzene) < kappa(PLA\acetone) < kappa(PLA\toluene) < kappa(PLA\methanol).

• 出版日期2013-5