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Processing-structure–property relationships of novel fibrous filters produced by a melt-process

Journal of Materials Science volume 51, pages 188–203 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Fibrous filters were produced using a novel melt-based co-extrusion and two-dimensional multiplication technology combined with a delamination technique using high-pressure water jets. The fibrous filters produced comprising continuous and rectangular polypropylene (PP)/polyamide 6 (PA6) micro/nano-fibers have structural integrity and uniform fiber distribution. The orientation procedure greatly improves the PP/PA6 crystal orientation, decreases the fiber sizes, and enhances their mechanical performance as filters. These filters have large surface area, micron-sized pores, and high porosity (~90 %), which are desirable for microfiltration applications. Structural and property analysis was performed on the PP/PA6 fibrous filters produced from varying number of plies of the composite tapes with different draw ratios and fiber width-to-thickness ratios. It was found that increasing the tape draw ratio improves the surface area and porosity of the filters, and decreases its pore size. Using more plies generates decreased filter pore size and unaffected porosity. Filters comprising fibers with higher width-to-thickness ratio have higher surface area, smaller pore size, and unchanged porosity. This melt-based, versatile technology is applicable to any melt-processable polymers to produce fibrous filters having tunable properties for various filtration applications.

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Acknowledgements

The project was made possible through the generous financial and technical support of the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center, Center for Layered Polymeric Systems (DMR-0423914). We would also like to thank our collaborator, PolymerPlus, LLC, and the National Science Foundation Small Business Technology Transfer (NSF STTR) for their financial support (award # 1346309).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Center for Layered Polymeric Systems, Case Western Reserve University, 2100 Adelbert Rd., Cleveland, OH, USA

    Jia Wang, Andrew Olah & Eric Baer

  2. PolymerPlus LLC, 7700 Hub Pkwy, Valley View, OH, USA

    Ravi Ayyar

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  1. Jia Wang
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  2. Ravi Ayyar
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  3. Andrew Olah
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  4. Eric Baer
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Correspondence to Jia Wang.

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Wang, J., Ayyar, R., Olah, A. et al. Processing-structure–property relationships of novel fibrous filters produced by a melt-process. J Mater Sci 51, 188–203 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9380-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9380-7

Keywords

  • Draw Ratio
  • Sample Tape
  • Filter Thickness
  • Composite Tape
  • Filter Configuration