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Modeling and optimization of waterproof‐breathable thermo‐regulating core‐shell nanofiber/net structured membrane for protective clothing applications
Author(s) -
Rahimi Massoumeh,
Mokhtari Javad
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.24776
Subject(s) - materials science , response surface methodology , polyurethane , composite material , nanofiber , central composite design , membrane , composite number , pulmonary surfactant , chemical engineering , chromatography , chemistry , biology , genetics , engineering
The mechanical and functional properties of thermo‐regulating hexadecane‐polyurethane (HD‐PU) nanofiber/net membrane (NFNM) with potential application in protective clothing were modeled and optimized. The optimum conditions for fabrication of the HD‐PU NFNM were obtained using response surface methodology (RSM). Central composite design (CCD) matrix was employed to develop predictive regression models along with optimize and investigate the effects of important parameters such as PU and surfactant concentrations, and co‐electrospinning time, on the responses. Mechanical and functional properties of protective membranes including strength, elongation, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), hydrostatic pressure, air permeability, and enthalpy of fusion were optimized as responses. As a result, higher NFNM strength was observed by increasing PU and surfactant concentrations. Thermal regulating efficiency (TRE) or HD loading amount for optimized NFNM was calculated using the results of RSM and experimental data, and it was obtained as 28% and 24%, respectively. Therefore, remarkable agreement with errors lower than 12% between predicted and experimental values was achieved. According to our findings, NFNM characteristics can be improved under controlled conditions and RSM is an efficient method to predict and optimize these conditions. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:1756–1765, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers