Polypropylene Nonwoven Fabrics Research Articles

Ag-decorated PP nonwoven for excellent catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol and antibacterial study

Silver particles have been frequently coated on the surface of substrates with the assistance of polydopamine due to their important catalytic and antibacterial properties. However, the polydopamine layer was not compact and the resulted particles on the substrates were easy to leak during the application process, especially in the aqueous environment. For mediating this, we coated Ag particles on the surface of polypropylene (PP) nonwoven fabric by codeposition of catechol and polyethyleneimine, with subsequent crosslinking by glutaraldehyde. The formation of Ag particles on PP nonwoven fabric surface was systematically characterized using SEM, EDS and elemental mapping, TEM, FTIR, XRD and TG. Batch experiment showed that Ag@PP nonwoven fabric could effectively degrade the model pollutant 4-nitrophenol in the presence of reduction agent NaBH4 with 100% degradation efficiency. The adsorption isotherm was assessed and displayed that the sorption of 4-nitrophenol on reactive Ag@PP nonwoven fabric followed the Freundlich model. The Ag@PP nonwoven fabric was easy to be recycled and could maintained 100% degradation efficiency after six cycles. The degradation process was monitored using HPLC/MS and the possible degradation mechanism was proposed. In addition, the Ag@PP nonwoven fabric showed excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli. Overall, the material fabricated in this work would be a reusable catalyst for water purification and disinfection.

Atomic layer deposition of ZnO on polypropylene nonwovens for photocatalytic antibacterial facemasks

Addressing respiratory infectious diseases remains one of the main priorities due to the increased risk of exposure caused by population growth, increasing international travel and commerce, and most recently, the COVID-19 outbreak. In the war against respiratory diseases, facemasks are powerful tools to obstruct the penetration of microorganisms, thereby protecting the wearer from infections. Nonetheless, the intercepted microorganisms on the surface of facemasks may proliferate and lead to secondary infection. To solve this problem, atomic layer deposition is introduced to deposit uniform and mechanically robust ZnO layers on polypropylene (PP) nonwoven fabrics, a widely used raw material in fabricating facemasks. The loading of ZnO demonstrates no adverse effects on the separation performance of facemasks, and the filtration efficiency of the facemasks towards different types of nanoparticles remains higher than 98.9%. Moreover, the modified PP nonwoven fabrics are granted with excellent antibacterial activity and photocatalytic sterilization ability, which can inactivate both germ-negative and germ-positive bacteria (E. coli and S. aureus) effectively with and without light illumination. Therefore, the modified PP nonwoven fabrics are potential candidates to be used as the outer layer on facemasks and endow them with photocatalytic antibacterial activity.

Electrospinning with curved nozzle spinneret for producing poly (vinyl Alcohol) nanomembrane for filtration

To produce a consistent and fine nanofiber with a higher yield, electrospinning with a redesigned spinneret has been used. The principle that a curved or sharp edge activates a greater electric field intensity that stretches the jet into a thinner and denser electro spinning nanoweb is the subject of this research. In the electrospinning process, a curved nozzle spinneret outperforms a circular nozzle spinneret and a standard needle type in terms of electric field intensity and dispersion. It has been discovered that a high electric field intensity causes a 30% reduction in fiber diameter, the development of a denser fiber web, and an increase in production rate up to 280 mg h−1.For testing as an air filtration material, the electro-spun nano web of Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is accumulated as a membrane and sandwiched with polypropylene nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven membrane can filter particles down to 2–3 microns, whereas the sandwiched PVA nano-fiber can filter particles into nanometers. This research could lead to the low-cost manufacture of Nano-membranes using a simple electrospinning setup.

Cerium doped zinc oxide nanoparticles loaded non-woven polypropylene fabric for photo decolourization of Congo red under visible light irradiation

Cerium doped zinc oxide nanoparticles loaded non-woven polypropylene fabric for photo decolourization of Congo red under visible light irradiation

Preparation and characterization of nanofibrous mats to enhance the anti-viral properties of nonwoven fabrics in medical sectors

This work suggests the preparation of antiviral nonwoven textile to be used in the medical sectors, namely, surgical gowns, bed sheets, and face masks. This was achieved by the preparation of nanofibrous mats (NFM), of different polymers with potential antiviral characters, on nonwoven polypropylene (PP) fabric. NFMs were prepared by electro-spinning of different polymer composites in formic acid using nozzle-less electro-spinneret. Chemical and physical properties were carried out for the prepared nanofibrous mats using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD). The morphological structure of the electro-spun NFM was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The prepared NFMs were characterized by measuring their nanofiber diameter, porosity, thickness, and air permeability. The influence of different polymers were statistically analyzed using One-way ANOVA, also Tukey Honest Significant Difference test (Tukey post hoc test) was measured. The radar chart was evaluated to determine the best behavior of samples. The results and analyses exhibited enhanced antiviral activity for the PP nonwoven fabric and the results which agreed with comfort properties introduced by the radar chart.

One-step antibacterial modification of polypropylene non-woven fabrics via oxidation using photo-activated chlorine dioxide radicals.

In this study, we examined the modification of polypropylene non-woven fabrics (PP NWFs) via a one-step oxidation treatment using photo-activated chlorine dioxide radicals (ClO2˙). The oxidised PP NWFs exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive). The mound structure and antibacterial activity in the modified PP NWFs disappeared upon washing with a polar organic solvent. After washing, nanoparticles of around 80 nm in diameter were observed in the solution. The results of several mechanistic studies suggest that nanoparticles can contribute to the antimicrobial activity of oxidised PP NWFs.

N/O Co-doped hierarchical nanoporous biochar derived from waste polypropylene nonwoven for high-performance supercapacitors.

How to efficiently treat municipal solid waste (MSW) has become one of the critical solutions in response to the call for "carbon neutrality". Here, the waste polypropylene nonwoven fabric of waste diapers was converted into hierarchical nanoporous biochar (HPBC) through pre-carbonization and activation processes as an ideal precursor for supercapacitors (SCs) with excellent performance. The prepared HPBC-750-4 with an ultrahigh specific surface area (3838.04 m2 g-1) and abundant heteroatomic oxygen (13.25%) and nitrogen (1.16%) codoped porous biochar structure. Given its structural advantages, HPBC-750-4 achieved a specific capacitance of 340.9 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 in a three-electrode system. Its capacitance retention rate was above 99.2% after 10 000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g-1, which indicated an excellent rate capability and long-term cycling stability. Furthermore, the HPBC-750-4//HPBC-750-4 symmetric SC exhibited a superb energy density of 10.02 W h kg-1 with a power density of 96.15 W kg-1 in a 6 M KOH electrolyte. This work not only demonstrates the enormous potential of waste polypropylene nonwoven fabric in the SC industry but also provides an economically feasible means of managing MSW.

Highly efficient solar-light-driven self-floatable WO2.72@Fe3O4 immobilized cellulose nanofiber aerogel/polypropylene Janus membrane for interfacial photocatalysis

In this study, a WO2.72@Fe3O4@cellulose nanofiber (CNF) aerogel (NC@CNF)/polypropylene (PP) Janus membrane was synthesized via freeze-drying. A low-density WO2.72@Fe3O4 nanocomposite was immobilized in CNF aerogel, and non-woven PP fabric was used as the substrate. The photocatalyst was designed to float on the surface of contaminated water in order to utilize all the irradiated light and easy recovery of the photocatalyst, that results hindering secondary pollution. The lightweight cross-linked CNF and hydrophobicity of PP enable flotation and enhance the stability in aqueous solution. The synthesized sample was systematically characterized, and the photocatalytic performance was investigated for photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) under full-spectrum solar light irradiation. The results showed that the fabricated Janus membrane photocatalyst system exhibited outstanding photodegradation performance, degrading 85% of MO within two hours. The results also indicated that the rate of photodegradation of MO by the NC@CNF/PP Janus membrane was approximately 1.3 times than that of NC. Besides the Janus membrane also exhibited excellent water evaporation performance having 96% water evaporation efficiency. This indicates that aerogel has interesting property for immobilizing functional nanomaterials for the development of self-floatable materials. Then, the developed self-floatable material could play a crucial role in environmental remediation. Therefore, this study can facilitate the development of CNF aerogel immobilized full-spectrum solar–light-active self-floatable material systems for photocatalysis and water evaporation.

Construction of MOF-loaded polypropylene nonwoven fabrics for fast catalytic hydrolysis of chemical warfare agent simulants

• MOF-808/fiber composite was fabricated using tannic acid (TA) hybrid coating as the mediating layer. • The as-prepared MOF-808/fiber composite with 23.4 % MOF-808 displayed a high surface area (340 m 2 /g). • The obtained PP fabrics displayed a half-life of 1.3 min for dimethyl p -nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP) degradation. • The PP@TA-APTES@MOF-808 catalyst has good stability for DMNP detoxification . Zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates for the catalyzed hydrolysis of nerve agents, but facile methods for their integration into textiles are still lacking. Herein, we report a strategy for the preparation of MOF-808-loaded polypropylene (PP) nonwoven fabrics mediated by a tannic acid (TA) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) hybrid coating (TA-APTES). The as-prepared PP nonwoven fabric displayed a rapid catalytic degradation rate for dimethyl p -nitrophenyl phosphate (DMNP) with a half-life of 1.3 min in a basic buffered condition.

Production of Bacterial Cellulose Based Bio Nonwoven/ Nonwoven Composites for Medical Textile Applications

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a popular biomaterial which is used in innovative research in many fields thanks to its unique properties. In this study, BC as bio nonwoven structures are produced in Kombucha culture using ‘acetobacter xylinum’ bacteria in a static culture setting. Bio nonwoven surfaces are produced with the sandwich composite model. They use 15-25-60% cotton/ viscose/ polypropylene nonwoven surface fabric and 80-20% polypropylene /viscose nonwoven surface fabric while creating bio nonwoven surfaces. Water retention, porosity, dust retention, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), and TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis) analysis of the obtained BC structures are investigated. As a result of the analysis, it is determined that the BC and BC composite structures, which have undergone hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide applications, have properties that can be used for medical purposes.

Towards a modern approach to traditional use of Helichrysum italicum in dermatological conditions: In vivo testing supercritical extract on artificially irritated skin

Ethnopharmacological relevanceHelichrysum italicum has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat allergies, colds, cough, skin, liver and gallbladder disorders, inflammation, infections, and sleeplessness. Furthermore, it possesses considerable wound healing and skin protective properties, documented by several in vivo studies performed on animals. However, there is a lack of experimental evidence supporting its potential as a topical agent tested by human clinical trials. Aim of the studyThe study aimed to investigate the skin protective activity of cotton gauze and polypropylene non-woven fabric, impregnated with H. italicum extract by the integrated supercritical CO2 extraction-supercritical solvent impregnation process. Materials and methodsThe integrated process of supercritical CO2 extraction of H. italicum and the impregnation of cotton gauze and polypropylene non-woven fabric was performed under 350 bar and 40 °C with and without the addition of ethanol as a cosolvent. Impregnated textile materials were tested in vivo for their bioactivity on irritated human skin. Randomized in vivo studies performed involved assays of both safety and efficacy of the impregnated textiles. The effects were evaluated using the in vivo non-invasive biophysical measurements of the following skin parameters: electrical capacitance, transepidermal water loss, melanin index, erythema index, and skin pH. ResultsBoth cotton gauze and polypropylene non-woven fabric were impregnated with H. italicum extracts under supercritical conditions with considerable values of the impregnation yield (1.97%–4.25%). The addition of ethanol as a cosolvent during the process caused significant changes in the incorporated extracts’ impregnation yield and chemical profile. Both impregnated textile materials were safe, evaluated by their testing on the human skin with no cause of any irritation and redness. However, efficacy studies revealed that polypropylene non-woven fabric impregnated with H. italicum extract with ethanol as a cosolvent, possessed significantly greater potential for skin protection than the other investigated samples. ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated the feasibility of the combined supercritical extraction and impregnation process in developing materials for topical application based on H. italicum extract. The results of in vivo studies performed on human volunteers confirmed the suitability of H. italicum active components to be a part of human skin protective preparations because of their ability to maintain the skin unimpaired. Traditionally claimed applications as a medicinal plant capable of regenerating skin have been scientifically proven, in addition to employing green technology in obtaining the impregnated materials with a broad spectrum of utilization.

Immobilization of strontium aluminate nanoparticles onto plasma-pretreated nonwoven polypropylene fibers by screen-printing toward photochromic textiles

Polypropylene fibers have been applied in various fields, such as automotives, plastic furniture, medical devices, and food packaging. Polypropylene fibers are characterized by low-cost, high flexural and impact strength, as well as high resistant to chemicals, moisture, fade, electricity and fatigue. However, polypropylene fiber is inherently resistant to stain because they have no active dyeing sites on their surface. Therefore, it has been impossible to dye polypropylene fibers after extrusion. In the current study, we introduce a novel strategy toward the production of photoluminescent nonwoven polypropylene fabrics by plasma-assisted screen-printing with rare-earth doped strontium aluminate nanoparticles. Aqueous-based phosphor-binder printing paste was applied directly onto nonwoven polypropylene textiles. The superhydrophobic properties of the phosphor-printed nonwoven polypropylene textile substrates were enhanced with increasing the phosphor ratio in the printing paste. Both of ultraviolet protection and antibacterial activity of the phosphor-printed nonwoven polypropylene fabrics were also considered. The produced colorless photoluminescent layer displayed an emission band at 515 nm after being excited at 371 nm. The phosphor-printed fabrics exhibited various colorimetric shades, including off-white beneath daylight and green beneath ultraviolet lamp, as proved by photoluminescence spectra and CIE Lab properties. The comfortability was inspected by testing both of air-permeability and bend length to indicate good flexibility and breathability. The phosphor nanoparticles were studied for their morphological properties to display diameters of 4–9 nm. The spectroscopic findings of the phosphor-printed nonwoven polypropylene were explored. The colorfastness was studied to indicate high durability. The phosphor-printed fabrics showed good reversibility and fatigue-resistance.

A facile strategy for rapid in situ synthesis of Cu2O on PP non-woven fabric with durable antibacterial activities

As the commercially filter material used in a face mask, polypropylene (PP) non-woven fabric is considerably important for personal and medical protection, which plays an essential role in reducing exposure to infectious respiratory bacteria and airborne aerosol particles. Herein, a facial and rapid strategy for in situ synthesis of cuprous oxide nanoparticles (Cu2O NPs) on PP nonwovens with the durable antibacterial property was demonstrated using high-temperature polydimethylsiloxane based on the concept of material engineering. Owing to the instantaneously slight melting of the PP surface layer at high temperature, Cu2O NPs were rapidly in situ constructed and immobilized on the fiber surface to form an organic and inorganic hybrid layer. The as-prepared Cu2O-PP non-woven fabric exhibited excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial properties towards both the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, showing an inhibition zone of 39 mm and 18 mm for B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa, respectively. Furthermore, a durable antibacterial property was also achieved after 50 times of standard washing. Finally, the as-prepared Cu2O-PP non-woven fabric was used as an insert filter to fabricate a four-layer PP-based face mask, which may significantly improve the antibacterial performance of masks. The method provides a facile engineering strategy for medical protection with great application potential.

Structural coloration and ultraviolet protective fabrication on fabrics coated with SiO2/TiO2 multilayer films via a magnetron sputtering method

Interference structural colors and excellent ultraviolet (UV) protection performance were prepared by coating SiO2/TiO2 composite multilayer film on polypropylene non-woven fabrics (PP-NW) and polyester woven fabrics (PET-W) via a magnetron sputtering method. The colors on the coated structured film of “substrate/[TiO2/SiO2]k/air” (TSk) and “substrate/[SiO2/TiO2]k/air” (STk) (k=2, 3, 4, 5) was confirmed to be the interference structural colors. The positions and numbers of the strongest reflection peaks of the reflection-reducing type of TSk film and the reflection-enhancing type of STk film were consistent with theoretical calculations. The optical properties obtained from depositing the same STk film on PP-NW and PET-W were different. The reflectivity of the STk film was greater than the TSk film. The STk-coated samples with the PET substrate have a higher reflectivity than samples with the PP substrate because of the higher refractive index of PET. The reflection-enhancing film structure and higher refractive index substrate improved the film reflectivity. This research offered a theoretical basis and practical guidance for structural coloration and functional fabrication on fabric substrates.

Roll to roll in situ preparation of recyclable, washable, antibacterial Ag loaded nonwoven fabric

Functional fabrics with antibacterial performance are more welcome nowadays. However, the fabrication of functional fabrics with durable, steady performance via a cost-effective way remains a challenge. Polypropylene (denoted as PP) nonwoven fabric was modified by polyvinyl alcohol (denoted as PVA), followed by the in-situ deposition of silver nanoparticles (denoted as Ag NPs) to afford PVA-modified and Ag NPs-loaded PP (denoted as Ag/PVA/PP) fabric. The encapsulation of PP fiber by PVA coating contributes to greatly enhancing the adhesion of the loaded Ag NPs to the PP fiber, and the Ag/PVA/PP nonwoven fabrics exhibit significantly improved mechanical properties as well as excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (coded as E. coli). Typically, the Ag/PVA/PP nonwoven fabric obtained at a silver ammonia concentration of 30 mM has the best mechanical properties and the antibacterial rate reaches 99.99% against E. coli. The fabric retains excellent antibacterial activity even after washing for 40 cycles, showing prospects in reuse. Moreover, the Ag/PVA/PP nonwoven fabric could find promising application in industry, thanks to its desired air-permeability and moisture-permeability. In addition, we developed a roll-to-roll production process and conducted preliminary exploration to verify the feasibility of this method.

Upscale recycling of nonwoven polypropylene waste using a novel blending method

AbstractWaste management of the nonwoven polypropylene (PP) fabric has become an emerging issue due to its increased usage. This study presents the upscale recycling of PP nonwoven fabric scrap generated during medical‐grade disposable gown manufacturing. To prepare PP and carbon black (CB) nanocomposite, a two‐step novel melt blending process is used. A maximum density of 937 kg/m3, shore D hardness of 74.45, and highest improvement in UV degradation resistance with a carbonyl index of 0.40 is recorded at 2 wt% of the CB while melt flow index is the lowest at 0.5 wt% of the CB. The results of this study revealed the peak melting point (161.81°C), thermal degradation temperature (421°C), highest flexural strength (49.16 MPa), and Izod impact strength (6.76 kJ/m2) are at 0.50 wt% of CB loading. A morphological study indicated that the highest agglomeration of CB particles was found at 2 wt% CB. The results showed that the optimum value of CB in PP nanocomposite is 0.5 wt%, at which the majority of the properties are maximized. This research might pave the way for the recycling of nonwoven PP waste fabric and provide an alternative to the exciting virgin raw materials.

Optimization of grafted fibrous polymer preparation procedure as a new solid basic catalyst for biodiesel fuel production from palm oil

Newly, radiation grafting polymer catalysts have been widely developed due to their excellence, cost-effectiveness, and high performance. In this research, glycidyl methacrylate monomers were grafted on polypropylene nonwoven polymer fabric by gamma-ray (simultaneous irradiation method). The grafted polymer was then modified using different amino groups and washed with NaOH salt for performing the transesterification process to produce biodiesel. Finally, the modified polymer catalyst was investigated for optimal biodiesel production using a statistical technique with a response surface methodology. Transesterification process parameters such as molar ratio of oil to ethanol, reaction time, andreaction temperature were tested for biodiesel synthesis. The catalyst structure was characterized with FT-IR, SEM, XRD, and TG techniques and illustrated having an efficient grafting percentage and efficient efficiency capability for biodiesel synthesis by batch experiments. The optimum conditions were obtained by a central composite design as follows: molar ratio of oil to ethanol = 1:200; reaction time = 180 min; reaction temperature = 66 °C. In this study, the optimal biodiesel yield was 91.6% and temperature was the most significant parameters affecting the biodiesel yield from RSM. Catalyst regeneration was performed using citric acid, sodium hydroxide salt, and ethanol after using the catalyst in the transesterification process and conversion of palm oil to biodiesel. The features such as inexpensive catalyst, easy to prepare, high performance, and resistance allow the radiated-induced grafted catalyst to constitute one of the promising materials for biodiesel production.

Preparation and cesium adsorption behavior of Prussian blue-based polypropylene nonwoven fabric by surfactant-assisted aqueous preirradiation graft polymerization

In this research, we demonstrate the environmentally benign and efficient preparation of poly(acrylic acid)-grafted hydrophobic non-woven polypropylene fabric (PP-g-PAA) by pre-irradiation graft polymerization in the presence of surfactant and its further use in the fabrication of Prussian blue (PB)-immobilized adsorbent (PP-g-PAA-PB) for the decontamination of Cs+. The grafting degree and staining results revealed that incorporation of 0.5 wt% of the surfactant produced a uniform PP-g-PAA (with the grafting degree from 19% to 172%) even at the lower aqueous monomer concentrations ranging from 2 to 8 wt%. From the physicochemical analytical results, it was confirmed that the homogenous introduction of PAA and immobilization of crystalline PB only on the hydrophobic PP fibers while preserving the intrinsic porous structure of the PP fabric. Moreover, the PP-g-PAA-PB adsorbent exhibited the good adsorption capacity compared to that of powder-type commercial PB adsorbent, considering its one-seventh lower loading PB amount in the Cs+ adsorption test than that of commercial PB. Therefore, this radiation-induced graft polymerization strategy could offer a promising way for environmentally benign and efficient surface functionalization of various hydrophobic polymers for use in various environmental and biological applications.

Graphene-Integrated Nonwoven Polypropylene Fabric for Simultaneous Filtering of Particulate Matter and Volatile Organic Compounds

Graphene-Integrated Nonwoven Polypropylene Fabric for Simultaneous Filtering of Particulate Matter and Volatile Organic Compounds

Virucidal N95 Respirator Face Masks via Ultrathin Surface-Grafted Quaternary Ammonium Polymer Coatings.

N95 respirator face masks serve as effective physical barriers against airborne virus transmission, especially in a hospital setting. However, conventional filtration materials, such as nonwoven polypropylene fibers, have no inherent virucidal activity, and thus, the risk of surface contamination increases with wear time. The ability of face masks to protect against infection can be likely improved by incorporating components that deactivate viruses on contact. We present a facile method for covalently attaching antiviral quaternary ammonium polymers to the fiber surfaces of nonwoven polypropylene fabrics that are commonly used as filtration materials in N95 respirators via ultraviolet (UV)-initiated grafting of biocidal agents. Here, C12-quaternized benzophenone is simultaneously polymerized and grafted onto melt-blown or spunbond polypropylene fabric using 254 nm UV light. This grafting method generated ultrathin polymer coatings which imparted a permanent cationic charge without grossly changing fiber morphology or air resistance across the filter. For melt-blown polypropylene, which comprises the active filtration layer of N95 respirator masks, filtration efficiency was negatively impacted from 72.5 to 51.3% for uncoated and coated single-ply samples, respectively. Similarly, directly applying the antiviral polymer to full N95 masks decreased the filtration efficiency from 90.4 to 79.8%. This effect was due to the exposure of melt-blown polypropylene to organic solvents used in the coating process. However, N95-level filtration efficiency could be achieved by wearing coated spunbond polypropylene over an N95 mask or by fabricating N95 masks with coated spunbond as the exterior layer. Coated materials demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against several lipid-enveloped viruses, as well as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. For example, a 4.3-log reduction in infectious MHV-A59 virus and a 3.3-log reduction in infectious SuHV-1 virus after contact with coated filters were observed, although the level of viral deactivation varied significantly depending on the virus strain and protocol for assaying infectivity.