Mechanically Robust and Biodegradable Electrospun Membranes Made from Bioderived Thermoplastic Polyurethane and...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Petroleum-based plastics cause environmental pollution.
• Porous polymer membranes are crucial in various industries like filtration, textiles, energy, and biomedicine.
• Bioplastic membranes offer a sustainable, biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate electrospun bioplastic membranes from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polylactic acid (PLA) blends.
• To assess the mechanical properties, air filtration performance, and biodegradability of these novel membranes.
• To provide a sustainable solution for air filtration, reducing reliance on petroleum feedstocks and plastic waste.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of TPU and PLA blends to create porous membranes.
• Mechanical testing including tensile and cyclic loading.
• Air filtration performance evaluation through pressure drop and filtration efficiency measurements.
• Biodegradability assessment in a home-compost environment.

Main Results:

• The TPU-PLA blend membranes exhibited effective performance under tensile and cyclic loading.
• The membranes demonstrated adequate air filter media properties, with measurable pressure drop and filtration efficiency.
• Biodegradation was observed in a home-compost environment, with aliphatic TPU formulations showing enhanced biodegradability over aromatic ones.
• Blending significantly improved PLA's strain at break and TPU's stiffness.

Conclusions:

• Electrospun bioplastic membranes from TPU and PLA blends offer a viable, high-performance alternative for air filtration.
• These membranes address environmental concerns by utilizing bioderived materials and enabling biodegradation.
• The study highlights the potential of sustainable materials in developing functional and eco-friendly filtration solutions.