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Updated: Aug 20, 2025

Strain Sensing Based on Multiscale Composite Materials Reinforced with Graphene Nanoplatelets
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Sterilizable and Reusable UV-Resistant Graphene-Polyurethane Elastomer Composites.

Lidia Kuo1, Benjamin J Luijten1, Siyang Li1

  • 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|November 17, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Graphene nanosheets in polyurethane composites offer UV protection and mechanical reinforcement, enabling N95 masks to withstand over 150 sterilization cycles for safe reuse. This innovation addresses PPE durability and sustainability challenges.

Keywords:
COVID-19carbon nanomaterialspersonal protective equipmentpolymer nanocompositesultraviolet germicidal irradiation

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted critical shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), leading to the reuse of items like N95 masks.
  • Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) sterilization can degrade N95 mask materials, compromising fit and filtration efficacy.
  • Developing reusable, UV-resistant elastomers is crucial for long-term sustainability and health security in PPE.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To create UV-resistant polyurethane (PU) elastomer composites using graphene nanosheets as additives.
  • To enhance the durability and reusability of PPE, specifically N95 masks, for UVGI sterilization.
  • To investigate the impact of graphene/ethyl cellulose (EC) loading on the UV resistance and mechanical properties of PU composites.

Main Methods:

  • Graphene nanosheets were produced via scalable exfoliation of graphite in ethanol with ethyl cellulose (EC).
  • Graphene/EC was incorporated into polyurethane (PU) elastomer composites at varying loadings up to 1 wt %.
  • UV resistance, mechanical properties (Young's modulus, elongation at break, toughness), and performance over multiple sterilization cycles were evaluated.

Main Results:

  • Graphene/EC additives significantly improved UV protection by absorbing UV light and preventing PU matrix degradation.
  • Mechanical properties, including Young's modulus, elongation at break, and toughness, were enhanced by graphene/EC.
  • The graphene/EC-PU composites maintained mechanical robustness for at least 150 UVGI sterilization cycles.

Conclusions:

  • Graphene/EC-PU composites offer substantial UV resistance and mechanical reinforcement, making them suitable for repeated UVGI sterilization.
  • These materials enable the safe reuse of PPE like N95 masks, addressing previous limitations caused by UV degradation.
  • The developed composites hold potential for broader applications in UVGI-compatible PPE, contributing to waste reduction and sustainability.