Effect of adhesive on the morphology and mechanical properties of electrospun fibrous mat of cellulose acetate.

Ultrafine fibers of cellulose acetate/poly(butyl acrylate) (CA/PBA) composite in which PBA acted as an adhesive and CA acted as a matrix, were successfully prepared as fibrous mat via electrospinning. The morphology observation from the electrospun CA/PBA composite fibers, after treatment with heat hardener, revealed that the fibers were cylindrical and had point-bonded structures. SEM, FT-IR spectra, Raman spectra, TGA analysis, and mechanical properties measurement were used to study the different properties of hybrid mats. The tensile strength of blend fibrous electrospun mats was found to be effectively increased. This resultant enhancement of the mechanical properties of polymer fibrous mats, caused by generating the point-bonded structures (due to adhesive), could increase the number of potential applications of mechanically weak electrospun CA fibers.

Photocatalytic and antibacterial properties of a TiO2/nylon-6 electrospun nanocomposite mat containing silver nanoparticles.

Silver-impregnated TiO(2)/nylon-6 nanocomposite mats exhibit excellent characteristics as a filter media with good photocatalytic and antibacterial properties and durability for repeated use. Silver nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully embedded in electrospun TiO(2)/nylon-6 composite nanofibers through the photocatalytic reduction of silver nitrate solution under UV-light irradiation. TiO(2) NPs present in nylon-6 solution were able to cause the formation of a high aspect ratio spider-wave-like structure during electrospinning and facilitated the UV photoreduction of AgNO(3) to Ag. TEM images, UV-visible and XRD spectra confirmed that monodisperse Ag NPs (approximately 4 nm in size) were deposited selectively upon the TiO(2) NPs of the prepared nanocomposite mat. The antibacterial property of a TiO(2)/nylon-6 composite mat loaded with Ag NPs was tested against Escherichia coli, and the photoactive property was tested against methylene blue. All of the results showed that TiO(2)/nylon-6 nanocomposite mats loaded with Ag NPs are more effective than composite mats without Ag NPs. The prepared material has potential as an economically friendly photocatalyst and water filter media because it allows the NPs to be reused.