Preparation of zinc oxide loaded polyurethane/polysulfone composite nanofiber membrane and study on its waterproof and moisture permeability properties

Herein, zinc oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were bonded to the surface of polyurethane/polysulfone (PU/PSF) electrospun nanofiber membrane, it was then hydrophobically modified with Hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS), and a new waterproof and moisture permeable composite nanofiber membrane with excellent ultraviolet (UV) resistant function was finally prepared. In this study, the effects of different PU/PSF mass ratio on the waterproof, moisture permeability and thermodynamic properties of nanofiber membrane were discussed. According to the static water contact angle, air permeability and moisture permeability, the effects of ZnO and HDTMS on the waterproof properties of composite nanofiber membrane were analyzed. The results have revealed that when the mass ratio of PU to PSF was 7:3, PU/PSF composite membrane has the best fiber morphology, thermal stability and waterproof and moisture permeability properties. After the surface of the composite film was successfully loaded with ZnO-NPs and treated with 2 wt% HDTMS, its contact angle reached 149 degrees, the moisture permeability was 9.6 kg/m2/d and UPF value up to 1117.67 which shows excellent UV resistance.

Automated summary

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles were bonded to a polyurethane/polysulfone electrospun nanofiber membrane and modified with Hexadecyltrimethoxysilane to create a waterproof and moisture permeable composite nanofiber membrane with excellent UV resistance. The optimal PU/PSF mass ratio of 7:3 resulted in the best fiber morphology, thermal stability, waterproof, and moisture permeability properties. The treated composite film showed a contact angle of 149 degrees, moisture permeability of 9.6 kg/m2/d, and a UPF value up to 1117.67, demonstrating outstanding UV resistance.