Abstract
Electrospun polymer membranes were considered to be promising materials for fine particulate matter (PM) filtration. However, the poor mechanical properties of the electrospun membrane restricted their application for pressure-driven air filtration. Herein, strength-enhanced electrospun polyimide (PI) membranes were demonstrated via a synergistic approach. Solvent-vapor treatment was utilized to introduce extra bonding at the cross points of PI nanofiber, while SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) were used to reinforce the body of nanofibers. The mechanical strength and filtration performance of hybrid membranes could be regulated by adjusting the quantity of SiO2 NPs. The tensile strength of the pure PI membrane was increased by 33% via adding 1.5% SiO2 NPs, which was further promoted by 70% after solvent-vapor treatment. With a slight reduction in pressure drop (6.5%), the filtration efficiency was not greatly suppressed by welding the SiO2 NP hybrid PI nanofibers. Moreover, the welded composite filter showed high particulate (0.3–1.0 μm) filtration efficiency (up to nearly 100%) and stable pressure drop throughout the 20 tested filtration cycles.
Highlights
With economic and industrial development, pollutants and their impact on human health have become a priority in recent research
The porous structure and open pores allow the easy passage of air molecules, which will block the particulate matters with higher capacity
We found that the filtration efficiency of PM0.3 was more than
Summary
With economic and industrial development, pollutants and their impact on human health have become a priority in recent research. The fine particulate matters (PM) are the primary abundant pollutant in the air, characterized by their small profile and their high specific area. These features allow them to be inhaled and passed into the bronchi and lungs through the respiratory tract and cause serious health problems [1]. The fibrous membrane-type filters consisting of well-aligned or randomly arranged fibers form a reticular support structure and tortuous pore channels, making it attractive in various fields, which turned out to be a feasible and promising method to fight against air pollution. The porous structure and open pores allow the easy passage of air molecules, which will block the particulate matters with higher capacity. Various methods have been invented to prepare high-performance air filter materials, including melt-blowing [10,11,12], spun-bonding [13,14], Polymers 2020, 12, 2494; doi:10.3390/polym12112494 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers
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