Effect of low molecular additives on the electrospinning of nonwoven materials from a polyamide-6 melt

Abstract

The effect of low molecular additives on the structure and properties of polyamide-6-based nonwoven materials obtained via electrospinning from a melt is studied. The introduction of up to 10% salts of higher fatty acids into the polymer melt leads to a decrease in its viscosity and to an increase in its electrical conductivity, thereby making it possible to produce nonwoven materials with an average fiber diameter of <1.5 µm. With the use of DSC, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, it is shown that, in nonwoven materials based on polyamide-6, the metastable γ form of crystals prevails, while, in the native polymer, the stable a form predominates. The resulting materials demonstrate high filtration characteristics, and their surface properties are close to superhydrophobic.