Mechanically Robust Polyurethane Microfibrous Membranes Exhibiting High Air Permeability

Abstract

Microporous polyurethane (PU) nano-microfibrous membranes exhibiting robust mechanical property with high air permeability were prepared using one-step electrospinning method. The role of compositions of electrospinning solution on the morphology, hydrophobicity and mechanical property of PU membranes were discussed, and a probable two-step break mechanism upon the external stress is proposed. Furthermore, the as-prepared membranes exhibited good air permeability (5.9 mm/s), high water resistance (5.7 kPa), and water vapor transmittance (7868 g/m², 24 h), and comparable tensile strength (15.95 MPa), suggesting their use as promising materials for various potential applications in protective clothing, membrane distillation, bioseparation, tissue engineering and catalyst carriers, etc.