Electrospun Silicone-Modified Polyurethane Nanofibers Without Organic Solvents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrospinning methods using organic solvents pose health and environmental risks, and there is a lack of effective spinning dispersions for producing fibers with silicone-modified polyurethane resins, which are known for their excellent properties but have poor spinnability.
Innovation Solution
A spinning dispersion for electrospinning is developed using an aqueous dispersion of a silicone-modified polyurethane resin, enhanced with a fiber-forming agent and a crosslinking agent, which improves spinnability and produces nano-sized fibers with improved strength and water repellency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If an organic solvent is used in electrospinning, then the spinnability and fiber formation are improved, but the health risk and environmental load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the spinning medium from organic solvent to water-based dispersion. This parameter change enables the use of aqueous polyurethane resin dispersion instead of organic solvent, thereby eliminating health and environmental risks while maintaining electrospinning functionality through proper dispersion formulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water-based dispersion system as an intermediary medium. By using aqueous polyurethane resin dispersion with appropriate surfactants and additives, the system mediates between the requirement for good spinnability and the need to eliminate organic solvents, achieving both goals simultaneously
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a water-based dispersion is used for electrospinning of polyurethane resin, then the health risk and environmental load are reduced, but the spinnability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite spinning dispersion system comprising water, polyurethane resin, surfactants, and other additives. This composite formulation combines multiple components to achieve both water-based safety and adequate spinnability, overcoming the limitations of simple aqueous solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters of the water-based dispersion including resin concentration, surfactant type and amount, pH value, and molecular weight of polyurethane resin. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the dispersion achieves sufficient spinnability while maintaining water-based safety
3Strength
If a silicone-modified polyurethane resin is used, then the flexibility, water vapor permeability, and water repellency are improved, but the spinnability in water-based dispersion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts critical parameters including the molecular weight of the silicone-modified polyurethane resin, the ratio of silicone modification, dispersion pH, and surfactant concentration. These parameter optimizations enable the difficult-to-spin silicone-modified resin to form fibers successfully while retaining its superior flexibility and water repellency properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses surfactants and dispersion agents as intermediaries to facilitate the electrospinning of silicone-modified polyurethane resin. These intermediaries reduce surface tension and improve wetting, enabling the hydrophobic silicone-modified resin to be properly dispersed and spun in water-based systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a safe, environmentally friendly method for producing nano-sized fibers with enhanced spinnability, strength, and water repellency, eliminating the risks associated with organic solvents and improving productivity.
Implementation Method 1
discharging a solution containing a polymer or a melt obtained by melting a polymer under a high voltage not only to provide ultrafine polymer by electrostatic repulsive force
Implementation Method 2
form an ultrafine fiber by volatilization or cooling of a solvent
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides nanometer-sized fibers that are produced by an electrospinning method with use of a spinning solution for electrospinning, said spinning solution being environmentally friendly and taking the effects of an organic solvent on the human body into consideration. The fibers are formed from a resin that contains a silicone-modified polyurethane resin which is a reaction product of (A) a polyol, (B) a water dispersant, (C) an active hydrogen group-containing organopolysiloxane represented by formula (1) R1R2R3SiO(SiR2R3O)nSiR1R2R3 (1) (wherein R1 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group which may have an oxygen atom in the chain, while having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and a hydroxyl group or a mercapto group, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group which has a primary amino group or a secondary amino group, while having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; each of R2 and R3 represents a group that is selected from among an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having from 7 to 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms and a vinyl group; and n represents an integer from 1 to 200), and (D) a polyisocyanate.