Simultaneous surface modification and mechanical enhancement of micro/nanofiber fabrics achieved by Janus particles

Abstract

The immiscible polymeric blend of polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was manufactured into multifilament fibers via the melt-spinning process, of which the mass ratio of PP to PVA was selected as 30%/70%. The PP micro/nanofibers were accessible with the removal of PVA in hot water. Kaolinite particles were also incorporated to modify the micro/nanofibers surface, for functionalization efficiencies play a useful role with the aid of a high specific surface area. The octahedral layers of kaolinite particles were grafted with a regioselective process by octadecyl (C18H37-) groups modified into Janus particles to better localize the fillers at the biphasic interface. As a result, the kaolinite particles having a Janus morphology are more distributed at the interface of the polymers, as observed by SEM. The knitting structures are capable of being maintained after the selective phase extraction leaving numbers of micro/nanofibers. After the incorporation of kaolinite particles, there are still some amounts of particles appearing on the surface of PP micro/nanofibers. Besides, there is a mechanical enhancement of the knitted fabrics, especially when the Janus particles are used, even after the selective phase extraction, which the conventional chemical treatment cannot bring. This study sets an example of fabricating PP micro/nanofiber fabrics surface-modified and mechanically enhanced using Janus kaolinite particles.

Keywords

• polymer composites
• micro/nanofiber
• polypropylene (pp)
• melt-spinning
• janus particles