Preparation, properties, and application of polypropylene micro/nanofiber membranes

Abstract

Nanofiber membranes have huge potential applications in many areas due to their unique properties. However, the thermoplastic micro/nanofiber membranes were rarely reported. In this paper, polypropylene (PP) nanofibers were prepared by melt extrusion of immiscible blends of PP, cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), and subsequent removal of the CAB matrix. The wet‐laid application was used to make PP nanofiber membranes and PP‐g‐MAH/nonwoven micro/nanofiber membrane. The properties of membranes including morphology, apparent density, porosity, contact‐angle, pore size distribution, and water flux were characterized. The results showed that the consequent membranes were provided with optimistic porosity and pore size distribution. Moreover, they were all with high pure water fluxes, which were superior to that of PP microporous membrane. They performed an excellent separation performance of TiO2 suspension and dyeing wastewater. The work revealed this method could be an efficient one to make thermoplastic polymer micro/nanofiber membranes, and they would have a brilliant potential application for water treatment. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Preparation of Nanocomposites of Polypropylene with Carbon Nanotubes via Masterbatches Produced by In Situ Polymerization and by Melt Extrusion

“…This means that the crystalline structure of PP in the nanocomposites have more imperfect crystals with orientation. However, it exhibits complete absence of the β‐crystal form, which would appear as two strong peaks at 2 θ of 16.2 and 21.2° …”

“…Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most widely used thermoplastics, with applications in several segments, such as in the automotive industry, electrical and electronics, construction, packaging etc. . In their formulation, materials based on PP usually contain inorganic reinforcing fillers in order to improve their properties …”

High flux nanofibrous composite microfiltration membrane prepared by melt blending extrusion: Application in liquid filtration

“…PP and EVOH nanofibers were prepared according to a previously published procedure . EVOH was dried in electric heating air‐blowing drier for 24 h at 80 °C and the other materials were dried in vacuum drying oven for 24 h at 100 °C before melt blending.…”

Extraction of nanofibers from polymer blends: A brief review

“…Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) is a biologically based thermoplastic polymer derived from cellulosic materials; it is a kind of polysaccharide prepared from esterification of cellulose derived from plant residues and wastes . CAB has excellent solubility, and it is used by several researchers as a matrix and the major component in the blends with other synthetic polymers for an environmentally safe method of nanofibers preparation . Most researchers have used acetone as a solvent to remove CAB; however, different reaction times and temperatures have been reported.…”

“…Only a few papers considered the application of nanofibers extracted from the blend of polymers with CAB . Application of nanofibers produced from blend of CAB and poly(ethylene‐ co ‐glycidyl methacrylate), (PE‐ co ‐GMA) and CAB with iPP have been examined .…”