Fabrication and characterization of a TiO2 nanoparticles polypropylene membrane: application in indoor air quality maintenance

Abstract

The production of innovative materials with improved features applicable in many domains is a key application of nanotechnology with far-reaching implications for modern society. Nanoparticle-based polymer composites are quickly becoming one of the most promising new materials, with potential uses spanning the chemical, physical, and biological sciences as well as engineering. Application of nanoparticle-based polymer composites for indoor air quality maintenance was discussed, as were their production, hybrid functionalization, and feasible synthesis procedures (filter membrane). The batch foaming procedure has been used to create foam from the thermoplastic polymer polypropylene (PP). Foaming is a blown process, where carbon dioxide is utilised as the blowing agent. Nanoparticles of titanium oxide (nano TiO2) are also used for reinforcement. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilised to investigate the NTPMs' surface morphology, while other physio-chemical characteristics were investigated by means of various analytical methods, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The adsorption isotherm and kinetics of water vapours were analysed to get insight into the water vapour adsorption characteristics of the NTPMs. The kinetics of adsorption pointed to a combination of intraparticle diffusion and liquid field driving processes for the transport of water vapours. Because of their high dehumidification effectiveness, synthetic NTPMs have the potential to replace many of the currently used traditional solid desiccant materials