Hydrophobic Polyurethane Research Articles

Permeation of water, ammonia and dichloromethane through graphene oxide/polymeric matrix composite membranes

The permeation of polar molecules (water and ammonia), non-polar dichloromethane and a mixture of ammonia and dichloromethane through graphene oxide (GO)/polymer matrix composite membranes was investigated. Results indicated that a hydrophilic poly(2-acrylamido -2 -methyl propane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS) based membrane had the highest permeability for water and ammonia due to the high hydrophilicity of the polymer matrix while a hydrophobic polyurethane (PU)-based membrane had the best permeation performance for dichloromethane and the worst performance for water and ammonia. Adding the GO to PU or PAMPS polymers increases the negative charge due to the negatively charged nature of GO caused by its oxygen-containing functional groups, which increases the amounts of absorbed water and ammonia due to the positive charge of the hydrogen atoms in these two molecules.

Stimuli-Responsive Micelles with Detachable Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) Shell Based on Amphiphilic Polyurethane for Improved Intracellular Delivery of Doxorubicin.

Polyurethanes (PUs) have various biomedical applications including controlled drug delivery. However, the incompletely release of drug at tumor sites limits the efficiency of these drug loaded polyurethane micelles. Here we report a novel polymer poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-SS-polyurethane-SS-poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) triblock polyurethane (PEtOz-PU(PTMCSS)-PEtOz). The hydrophilic pH-responsive poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) was used as an end-block to introduce pH responsiveness, and the hydrophobic PU middle-block was easily synthesized by the reaction of poly (trimethylene carbonate) diol containing disulfide bonds (PTMC-SS-PTMC diol) and bis (2-isocyanatoethyl) disulfide (CDI). PEtOz-PU(PTMCSS)-PEtOz could self-assemble to form micelles (176 nm). The drug release profile of PEtOz-PU(PTMCSS)-PEtOz micelles loaded with Doxorubicin (DOX) was studied in the presence of acetate buffer (10 mM, pH 5.0) and 10 mM dithiothreitol (DTT). The results showed that under this environment, DOX-loaded polyurethane micelles could release DOX faster and more thoroughly, about 97% of the DOX was released from the DOX-loaded PEtOz-PU(PTMCSS)-PEtOz micelle. In addition, fluorescent microscopy and cell viability assays validated that the DOX-loaded polyurethane micelle strongly inhibits the growth of C6 cells, suggesting their potential as a new nanomedicine against cancer.

Fast fabrication of silicone-modified polyurethane/SiO2 composite superhydrophobic coating with excellent anti-icing and self-cleaning behaviour

The superhydrophobic coating has many excellent properties, but due to the limitation of poor surface mechanical stability and sophisticated preparation engineering, it is challenging to realize large-area application. In this study, a robust superhydrophobic coating with excellent performance was prepared by a simple and fast method. The modified silica nanoparticles was sprayed on the hydrophobic polyurethane coating, and the superhydrophobic surface with a water contact angle of 160° and sliding angle of 2° was successfully prepared after curing under UV lamp for 3 min. The coating can be applied to the surface of all kinds of substrates, and it still has a static water contact angle of 150° after 400 cycles of friction on 500 mesh sandpaper. Furthermore, the coating with verified self-cleaning and anti-icing properties exhibits superhydrophobicity to strong acid and alkali solutions. This simple, fast and environmentally friendly preparation method is expected to realize the wide application of superhydrophobic coatings.

Superhydrophilic Polyurethane/Polydopamine Nanofibrous Materials Enhancing Cell Adhesion for Application in Tissue Engineering.

The use of nanofibrous materials in the field of tissue engineering requires a fast, efficient, scalable production method and excellent wettability of the obtained materials, leading to enhanced cell adhesion. We proposed the production method of superhydrophilic nanofibrous materials in a two-step process. The process is designed to increase the wettability of resulting scaffolds and to enhance the rate of fibroblast cell adhesion. Polyurethane (PU) nanofibrous material was produced in the solution blow spinning process. Then the PU fibers surface was modified by dopamine polymerization in water solution. Two variants of the modification were examined: dopamine polymerization under atmospheric oxygen (V-I) and using sodium periodate as an oxidative agent (V-II). Hydrophobic PU materials after the treatment became highly hydrophilic, regardless of the modification variant. This effect originates from polydopamine (PDA) coating properties and nanoscale surface structures. The modification improved the mechanical properties of the materials. Materials obtained in the V-II process exhibit superior properties over those from the V-I, and require shorter modification time (less than 30 min). Modifications significantly improved fibroblasts adhesion. The cells spread after 2 h on both PDA-modified PU nanofibrous materials, which was not observed for unmodified PU. Proposed technology could be beneficial in applications like scaffolds for tissue engineering.

A comparison of hydrophobic polyurethane and polyurethane peripherally inserted central catheter: results from a feasibility randomized controlled trial

BackgroundTo evaluate the feasibility of an efficacy trial comparing a hydrophobic polyurethane peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) with a standard polyurethane PICC.MethodsThis pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted between May 2017 and February 2018. Adult participants (n = 111) were assigned to hydrophobic polyurethane PICC with proximal valve (intervention) or a polyurethane PICC with external clamp (standard care). Primary outcome was trial feasibility including PICC failure. Secondary outcomes were central line-associated bloodstream infection, local infection, occlusion, thrombosis, fracture and dislodgement, phlebitis, local or systemic allergic reaction, and PICC dwell time.ResultsAll feasibility outcomes were achieved, apart from eligibility criteria. In total, 338 patients were screened, 138 were eligible (41%), and of these 111 were randomised (80%). Patients received the allocated PICC in 106 (95%) insertions. No patients withdrew from the study and there was no missing data. PICC failure was 24% (13/55) in the intervention group and 22% (12/55) in the standard care group (p = 0.820). PICC failure per 1000 PICC days was 16.3 in the intervention group and 18.4 in the control group (p = 0.755). The average dwell time was 12 days in the intervention and 8 days in the control group.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the feasibility of an efficacy trial of PICC materials in an adult population, once adjustments were made to include not only in-patients, but also patients being discharged to the Hospital in the Home service.Trial registrationAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616001578493. Prospectively registered on 16 November 2016. The trial protocol was published a priori (Kleidon et al., Vasc Access 3:15–21, 2017).

Integrated Smart Janus Textile Bands for Self-Pumping Sweat Sampling and Analysis.

Wearable sweat sensors have spearheaded the thrust toward personalized health monitoring with continuous, real-time, and molecular-level insight in a noninvasive manner. However, effective sweat sampling still remains a huge challenge. Here, we introduce an intelligent Janus textile band that bridges the gap between self-pumping sweat collection, comfortable epidemic microclimate, and sensitive electrochemical biosensing via an integrated wearable platform. The dominant sweat sampling configuration is a textile with Janus wettability, which is fabricated by electrospinning a hydrophobic polyurethane (PU) nanofiber array onto superhydrophilic gauze. Based on a contact-pumping model, the Janus textile can unidirectionally and thoroughly transport sweat from skin (hydrophobic side) to embedded electrode surface (hydrophilic side) with epidemic comfort. On-body experimentation reveals that the sensitive detection of multiple biomarkers including glucose, lactate, K+, and Na+ is achieved in the pumped sweat. Such smart Janus textile bands can effectively drain epidermal sweat to targeted assay sites via interface modifications, representing a reinforced and controlled biofluids analysis pathway with physiological comfort.

Synthesis and properties of side chain fluorinated polyurethanes and evaluation of changes in microphase separation

To develop marketable new waterproof and breathable membranes, this study successfully applied a simple synthesis method to combine pentadecafluorooctanoyl chloride and 2-Amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol into a novel long-segment side-chain fluorinated chain extender (AMPF), the structure was examined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. To promote environmental-friendliness, biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) was chosen to supply the soft segment of polyurethane (PU), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate to supply the hard segment, The successful introduction of AMPF into the PCL-based PU enabled the production of AMPF/PUs. To investigate the effect of AMPF on PCL-based PU, NMR and gel permeation chromatography were performed for the preliminary analysis of AMPF/PUs; curve fitting was applied in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The atomic force microscopy to determine the difference in van der Waals forces and microphase separation in AMPF/PUs; a thermal gravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis were conducted to determine the thermal properties of AMPF/PUs, and tensile test were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of AMPF/PUs. The results reveal that AMPF/PUs have a high degree of microphase separation, and the heat resistance of AMPF/PUs can be improved by 4–5 %, while the tensile strength can be increased by about 28 MPa with the increase of AMPF content. From the contact angle test, it is known that the increase of AMPF content can convert the hydrophilic polyurethane (77.8 ± 2.7°) into the hydrophobic (95.2 ± 2.1°) polyurethane. Therefore, it is shown that AMPF can not only improve the strength of polyurethane but also provide hydrophobic properties. This fluorinated chain extender shows considerable potential for the coatings materials and waterproof and breathable fabrics.

In-Situ Synthesis of Hydrophobic Polyurethane Ternary Composite Induced by Hydroxyethyl Cellulose through A Green Method for Efficient Oil Removal.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) was introduced to activate the surface of polyurethane (PU) sponge to successfully prepare a hydrophobic ternary composite PU/HEC/SiO2. The hydrophobic layer of the composite was realized by in-situ polymerization of methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) onto the surface of PU sponge. The formation of a stable hydrophobic SiO2 layer solved successfully the problem of ease of SiO2 particles shedding from the composite. Moreover, the amphiphilic molecules produced by the hydrolysis of MTES monomers facilitated the preparation of hydrophobic materials by aqueous dispersion polymerization. Aqueous synthesis made the reaction process environmentally-friendly and pollution-free. The as-prepared composite PU/HEC/SiO2 not only retains high porosity and low density of the PU sponge, but also considerably reduced the surface free energy and increased the surface roughness of the PU sponge. Therefore, outstanding hydrophobicity and high porosity endow the composite with excellent oil removal capability as a high-efficiency absorbent. Moreover, the hydrophobic composite that had absorbed oil could be regenerated easily by squeezing and recycling.

Multi-scaled interconnected inter- and intra-fiber porous janus membranes for enhanced directional moisture transport

HypothesisGrowing use of comfortable functional textiles has resulted in increased demand of excellent directional moisture (sweat) transport feature in textiles. However, designing such anisotropic functional textiles that allow fast penetration of sweat through one direction but prevent its movement in the reverse direction is still a challenging task. In this regard, fabrication of a novel Janus membrane with multi-scaled interconnected inter- and intra-fiber pores for enhanced directional moisture transport designed by a rational combination of superhydrophilic hydrolyzed porous polyacrylonitrile (HPPAN) nanofibers and hydrophobic polyurethane (PU) fibers via electrospinning may be a very useful approach. ExperimentPAN/PVP composite nanofibers were electrospun using PAN/PVP composite solution dissolved in DMF. After electrospinning, electrospun fibers were subjected extensive washing process to selectively remove PVP from the fiber matrix to develop highly rough and porous PAN (PPAN) nanofibers. The resultant PPAN nanofibers were then hydrolyzed to further improve their wettability. Finally, a layer of PU fibers was directly deposited on the HPPAN nanofibers via electrospinning to fabricate the subsequent Janus membrane. FindingsThe resultant PU/HPPAN Janus membranes display instant moisture transport in the positive direction with exceptional directional moisture transport index (R = 1311.3%), whereas, offer superior resistance (i.e. breakthrough pressure ≥17.1 cm H2O) to the moisture movement in the reverse direction. Moreover, a plausible mechanism articulating the role of inter- and intra-porosity for the enhanced directional moisture transport has been proposed. Successful fabrication of such fascinating Janus membranes based on the proposed coherent mechanism opens a new insight into the engineering of novel functional textiles for fast sweat release and personal drying applications.

Elucidating the Drug Release from Metal-Organic Framework Nanocomposites via In Situ Synchrotron Microspectroscopy and Theoretical Modeling.

Nanocomposites comprising metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) embedded in a polymeric matrix are promising carriers for drug delivery applications. While understanding the chemical and physical transformations of MOFs during the release of confined drug molecules is challenging, this is central to devising better ways for controlled release of therapeutic agents. Herein, we demonstrate the efficacy of synchrotron microspectroscopy to track the in situ release of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) anticancer drug molecules from a drug@MOF/polymer composite (5-FU@HKUST-1/polyurethane). Using experimental time-resolved infrared spectra jointly with newly developed density functional theory calculations, we reveal the detailed dynamics of vibrational motions underpinning the dissociation of 5-FU bound to the framework of HKUST-1 upon water exposure. We discover that HKUST-1 creates hydrophilic channels within the hydrophobic polyurethane matrix hence helping to tune drug release rate. The synergy between a hydrophilic MOF with a hydrophobic polymer can be harnessed to engineer a tunable nanocomposite that alleviates the unwanted burst effect commonly encountered in drug delivery.

Experimental investigation on application of industrial coatings for prevention of asphaltene deposition in the well-string

Asphaltene deposition in the wellbore during natural depletion and EOR processes causes severe problems and increases the cost of the incremental oil recovery. Investigation of coatings as a preventive approach for operational problems during well production seems mandatory due to economic, environmental and technical limitations involved in mechanical and chemical treatment approaches. In this work, the anti-asphaltene performance of different coatings namely epoxy resin, polyurethane, phosphate, and two fluoropolymers (PTFE and PFA) was investigated by using a flow loop experimental setup. The wettability characteristics of the coated coupons were also studied by contact angle measurements to explore the correlation between asphaltene adherence tendency and wettability of the treated surfaces. Experimental results showed that despite the hydrophilicity of carbon steel, an intense increasing trend in asphaltene deposition occurred due to intrinsically high surface energy of carbon steel. An anti-asphaltene deposition ratio (Raa) was defined to describe the anti-stick performance of different coatings compared to the uncoated carbon steel. It was observed that hydrophobic polyurethane and epoxy resin coatings showed weak anti-asphaltene performance with low Raa values where they have reduced asphaltene deposition 10% and 48.34%, respectively. Super-hydrophilic phosphate coating reduced the asphaltene deposition by 91.25% via formation of a water film on the coated surface. Finally, the fluoropolymer coatings showed the best performance among investigated samples by anti-asphaltene deposition ratios of 99.89% and 99.94%. The low surface energy of these coatings introduces them as non-reactive surfaces compared to other coatings, hence accepting much less asphaltene deposition.

Conversion of the Hydrophobic Surface of Polyurethane into a Hydrophilic Surface Using the Graft Polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl Methacrylate and the Resulting Antifungal Effect

A hydrophobic polyurethane (PU) was altered to obtain a hydrophilic characteristic using the graft polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methylmethacrylate (DAMA) onto the PU surface and the subsequent ionization of the dimethylamino group on poly(DAMA). The grafted poly(DAMA) chain influenced numerous properties, such as the cross-link density, thermal transitions of soft segments, and tensile and shape memory characteristics. The grafting of poly(DAMA) noticeably enhanced the breaking tensile stress and shape recovery capability through the cross-linking between the grafted poly(DAMA)s, but the breaking tensile strain and the shape retention did not noticeably decline after the grafting of poly(DAMA). Additionally, the poly(DAMA)-grafted PU exhibited a significant enhancement in its low temperature flexibility and antifungal effectiveness against a mixture of fungi.

Hydrophobic polyurethane polyHIPEs templated from mannitol within nonaqueous high internal phase emulsions for oil spill recovery

ABSTRACTAlthough amphiphilicity is an integral component for the applications of polyHIPEs (PHs), it is challenging to produce hydrophobic PHs from hydrophilic monomers. Herein, hydrophobic polyurethane (PU) PHs have been fabricated from a water‐soluble mannitol within block copolymer surfactant‐stabilized, nonaqueous high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). These highly porous, interconnected, macroporous PU PHs were hydrophobic with water contact angles between 102° and 140°, demonstrating that water‐soluble monomers could be used for fabrication of hydrophobic PHs. The block copolymer surfactant acted not only as the HIPE stabilizer, but also as a monomer, enhancing hydrophobicity and overcoming some drawbacks imposed by conventional inert stabilizers. The solvents used for PU PH synthesis and purification were easily recovered and reused, showing that nonaqueous HIPE templating for PU PH preparation is an efficient and facile route. The PU PHs were investigated for oil spill reclamation and they were demonstrated to be an ideal candidate for such an application. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1315–1321

Effect of Relative Humidity on the Viscoelasticity of Thin Organic Films Studied by Contact Thermal Noise AFM.

Material scientists are in need of experimental techniques that facilitate a quantitative mechanical characterization of mesoscale materials and, therefore, their rational design. An example is that of thin organic films, as their performance often relates to their ability to withstand use without damage. The mechanical characterization of thin films has benefited from the emergence of the atomic force microscope (AFM). In this regard, it is of relevance that most soft materials are not elastic but viscoelastic instead. While most AFM operation modes and analysis procedures are suitable for elasticity studies, the use of AFM for quantitative viscoelastic characterizations is still a challenge. This is now an emerging topic due to recent developments in contact resonance AFM. The aim of this work was to further explore the potential of this technique by investigating its sensitivity to viscoelastic changes induced by environmental parameters, specifically humidity. Here, we show that by means of this experimental approach, it was possible to quantitatively monitor the influence of humidity on the viscoelasticity of two different thin and hydrophobic polyurethane coatings representative of those typically used to protect materials from processes like weathering and wear. The technique was sensitive even to the transition between the antiplasticizing and plasticizing effects of ambient humidity. Moreover, we showed that this was possible without the need of externally exciting the AFM cantilever or the sample, i.e., just by monitoring the Brownian motion of cantilevers, which significantly facilitates the implementation of this technique in any AFM setup.

Improvement of lipase activity by synergistic immobilization on polyurethane and its application for large-scale synthesizing vitamin A palmitate

We have developed an improved and effective method to immobilize lipase on hydrophobic polyurethane foam (PUF) with different modifications. PUF was treated with hydrochloric acid to increase the active sites and then the active carboxyl groups and amino groups were exposed. Enzyme activity of lipase immobilized on PUF-HCL (8000 U/g) was 50% higher than that of lipase immobilized on PUF (5300 U/g). There is an increase in the activity of the immobilized lipase on AA/PEI-modified support (115,000 U/g), a 2.17-fold increase compared to lipase immobilized on the native support was observed. The activity of immobilized lipases was dependent on the PEI molecular weight, with best results from enzyme immobilized on PUF-HCL-AA/PEI (MW 70,000 Da, 12,800 U/g)), which was 2.41 times higher compared to that of the same enzyme immobilized on PUF. These results suggest that the activity of immobilized lipase is influenced by the support surface properties, and a moderate support surface micro-environment is crucial for improving enzyme activity. Finally, the immobilized lipase was used for the production of vitamin A palmitate. The immobilized lipase can be reused for up to 18 times with a conversion rate above 90% for 12 h in a 3 L bioreactor.Research highlightsAn efficient immobilization protocol on polyurethane foam was developedPolyethyleneimine and acetic acid were used to regulate the micro-environment concurrentlyThe activity of lipase immobilized on PUF-HCL-AA/PEI was improved by 2.41 timesImmobilized lipase exhibited excellent operational stability for vitamin A palmitate synthesis

The mineralization of polymer electrospun fibrous membranes modified with tourmaline nanoparticles

Abstract

Cost-Effective Strategy for Surface Modification via Complexation of Disassembled Polydopamine with Fe(III) Ions.

Mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) deposition provides a prominent approach for constructing functional coatings, which has received much research interest over the past decade. However, large PDA aggregates often formed and precipitated from the solution during the deposition process, significantly lowering the utilization efficiency of dopamine for surface modification. It is of both fundamental and practical importance to "reactivate" and reuse the precipitated aggregates to achieve higher usage efficiency of PDA in surface modifications. In this work, we report a facile, substrate-independent, and cost-effective coating strategy, by disassembling the precipitated PDA aggregates, to achieve the coating deposition through the complexation of disassembled polydopamine (d-PDA) species with Fe(III) ions on various substrates. Adsorption tests determined by a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring technique indicated that the pH of the solution and the ratio of d-PDA to Fe(III) significantly influence the deposition behavior of d-PDA/Fe(III). Force measurements using a surface force apparatus demonstrated that the coordination interaction between d-PDA and Fe(III) was the major force leading to the formation of coatings. The deposited d-PDA/Fe(III) coatings featured controllable nanoscale thickness, uniform surface morphologies, and light color. Furthermore, the d-PDA/Fe(III) coating could act as an intermediate layer in the preparation of hydrophobic polyurethane sponge for highly efficient oil/water separation. This work provides a useful strategy to realize the reusability of PDA aggregates for versatile surface functionalization, with implications for the fundamental understanding of the formation mechanism in the metal-phenolic complexation systems and development of new coating approaches in various engineering applications.

Ultrathin Transparent Nanobrick Wall Anticorrosion Coatings

It is important to find environmentally friendly replacements for chromate conversion coatings (CCCs) that are effective anticorrosion layers. In this work, high corrosion resistance is demonstrated with ultrathin (and transparent) multilayer coatings deposited on an aluminum alloy. Cationic polyurethane (PU) and anionic vermiculite clay (VMT) multilayer films were deposited from aqueous solutions using layer-by-layer assembly. The combination of relatively hydrophobic polyurethane and highly aligned clay platelets leads to excellent barrier properties for the PU/VMT coating in an aqueous environment. A 30 bilayer PU/VMT coating, with a thickness of only 300 nm, provides 2 orders of magnitude improvement in impedance and imparts corrosion protection for 5 days. Another advantage of this unique coating system is that no surface treatments are required prior to coating due to the strong adhesion of polyelectrolytes to the metal. The work demonstrates the use of novel LbL assembled nanocoatings as a potentia...

Amphiphilic polyurethane hydrogels as smart carriers for acidic hydrophobic drugs

Amphiphilic hydrogels are widely reported as systems with great potential for controlled drug release. Nevertheless, the majority of studies make use of functionalization or attachment of drugs to the polymer chains. In this study, we propose a strategy of combining amphiphilic polyurethanes with pH-responsive drugs to develop smart drug carriers. While the amphiphilic character of the polymer imparts an efficient load of hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs, the drug’s characteristics determine the selectivity of the medium delivery. Drug loading and release behavior as well as hydrolytic degradation of chemically crosslinked polyurethane hydrogels based on PEG and PCL-triol (PU (polyurethane) hydrogels) synthesized by an easy one-pot route were studied. PU hydrogels have been shown to successfully load the hydrophobic acidic drug sodium diclofenac, reaching a partition coefficient of 8 between the most hydrophobic PU and diclofenac/ethanol solutions. Moreover, an oral administration simulation was conducted by changing the environment from an acidic to a neutral medium. PU hydrogels release less than 5% of the drug in an acidic medium; however, in a PBS pH 7.4 solution, diclofenac is delivered in a sustained fashion for up to 40 h, achieving 80% of cumulative release.

Robust hydrophobic polyurethane fibrous membranes with tunable porous structure for waterproof and breathable application

In this work, novel nanofibrous membranes with waterproof and breathable (W&B) performance were successfully fabricated by the combination of electrospinning and surface modification technology. This fibrous membranes consisted of polyurethane (PU), NaCl, and fluoroalkylsilane (FAS). Firstly, The fibrous construction and porous structure of fibrous membranes were regulated by tuning the NaCl concentrations in PU solutions. Then, the obtained PU/NaCl fibrous membranes were further modified with fluoroalkylsilane (FAS) to improve hydrophobic property. The synergistic effect of porous structure and hydrophobicity on waterproof and breathable performance was investigated. Furthermore, the mechanical property of fibrous membranes was deeply analysed on the basis of macromolecule orientation and adhesive structure. Benefiting from the optimized porous structure and hydrophobic modification, the resultant fibrous membranes exhibited excellent waterproof (hydrostatic pressure of 1261 Mbar), breathable (water vapor transmission (WVT) rate of 9.06 kg m−2 d−1 and air permeability of 4.8 mm s−1) performance, as well as high tensile strength (breakage stress of 10.4 MPa), suggesting a promising candidate for various applications, especially in protective clothing.