Search Results (777)

The production of nanofibers has become a significant area of research due to their unique properties and diverse applications in various fields, such as biomedicine, textiles, energy, and environmental science. Electrospinning, a versatile and scalable technique, has gained considerable attention for its ability to fabricate nanofibers with tailored properties. Among the wide array of conductive polymers, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has emerged as a promising material due to its exceptional conductivity, environmental stability, and ease of synthesis. The electrospinning of PEDOT-based nanofibers offers tunable electrical and optical properties, making them suitable for applications in organic electronics, energy storage, biomedicine, and wearable technology. This review, with its comprehensive exploration of the fabrication, properties, and applications of PEDOT nanofibers produced via electrospinning, provides a wealth of knowledge and insights into leveraging the full potential of PEDOT nanofibers in next-generation electronic and functional devices by examining recent advancements in the synthesis, functionalization, and post-treatment methods of PEDOT nanofibers. Furthermore, the review identifies current challenges, future directions, and potential strategies to address scalability, reproducibility, stability, and integration into practical devices, offering a comprehensive resource on conductive nanofibers. Full article

Natural-based and synthetic tissue adhesives have attracted extensive attention in the last two decades for their ability to stabilize uncontrolled bleeding instances. However; these materials present several drawbacks during use that scientists have tried to minimize in order to optimize their usage. This study comprises the development of a novel wound dressing, combining the excellent properties of polylactic acid (PLA) non-woven textile, as substrate, obtained through electrospinning, and a cyanoacrylate-based (CA) tissue adhesive, for rapid hemostatic action. Thus, the fabrication of electrospun PLA membranes at three different PLA concentrations, the design and manufacturing of the support system and the production of surgical patches were carried out. SEM and FT-IR methods were employed for analyzing the morphology as well as the indicative markers for the shelf life evolution of the obtained patches. PLA fibers with well-defined structures and a mean diameter varying between 4.6 and 7.24 μm were obtained with the increase of the concentration of the PLA solutions. In vivo tests on a rat model as well as peeling tests for good patch adhesion on liver fragments harvested from the test animals, with a limit for the strength of the liver tissue of 1.5 N, were carried out. The devices exhibited excellent adhesion to the parenchymal tissue and a long enough shelf life to be used with success in surgical procedures, also facilitating prompt hemostatic action. Full article

Rayon is an extremely valuable cellulosic fiber in the global textile industry. Since cuprammonium rayon is more eco-friendly than other types of rayon fabrics, it was synthesized by regenerating α–cellulose isolated from wastepaper using a novel gaseous-ammoniation injection (GAI) process. This was achieved by preparing tetra–ammine copper hydroxide (cuoxam solution) via reacting copper sulfate and sodium hydroxide to produce copper hydroxide that was, finally, ammoniated by injecting the gas directly to the reaction vessel instead of using ammonium hydroxide applied by prior art. After that, the air-dried cellulose was chemically generated by dissolving it in a freshly prepared cuoxam solution and, subsequently, was regenerated by extruding it within a hardening bath constituted mainly from citric acid, producing the cuprammonium rayon (c. rayon). The properties of the fibrous, structural (XRD and mechanical), physical, and chemical features were investigated. It was found that the rayon was produced in a high yield (90.3%) with accepted properties. The fibrous properties of the rayon staple length, linear density, and fiber diameter were found to be 44 mm, 235 Tex, and 19.4 µm, respectively. In addition, the mechanical properties determined, namely tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus of elasticity, and breaking tenacity, were found to be 218.3 MPa, 14.3 GPa, 16.1%, and 27.53 cN/Tex, respectively. Based on this finding, and upon injecting the ammonia gas through the α–cellulose saturated and immersed in the Cu (OH)₂ to complete producing the cuoxam solvent, we find that theuse of an injection rate of 120 mL/minute to obtain the highest fibers’ tensile strength for the final product of the c. rayon is preferable. Utilization of higher rates will consume more amounts of the ammonia gas without gaining noticeable enhancement in the c. rayon’s mechanical quality. Accordingly, the GAI invention rendered the c. rayon favorable for use in making sustainable semisynthetic floss for either insulation purposes or spun threads for woven and nonwoven textile clothing. Full article

In this work, the resistance of polylactide-based non-wovens produced by solution blow spinning to environmental factors was investigated. An average contact angle of up to 136° was achieved with an average fiber diameter of 340 nm at the optimal material density and nozzle–substrate distance. When exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the polylactide non-wovens rapidly lose their hydrophobic properties due to changes in surface morphology resulting from fiber melting. It was demonstrated that the influence of surface structural features on hydrophobicity is greater than that of the material itself. The stability of the wetting properties under UV irradiation was assessed using the derivative parameters of the Owens–Wendt technique, which can serve as an additional method for estimating surface polarity. Full article

In this study, recycled carbon fibers (rCFs) recovered from waste carbon composites were used to manufacture wet-laid nonwoven fabrics. The aim was to improve dispersibility by investigating the changes in the dispersibility of carbon fibers (CFs) based on the content of the dispersant carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and the binder polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and the length and basis weight of the CFs. In addition, the chemical property changes and oxygen functional group mechanisms based on the content of the CMC dispersant and PVA binder were investigated. The nonwoven fabrics made with desized CFs exhibited significantly improved dispersibility. For nonwoven fabrics produced with a fixed binder PVA content of 10%, optimal dispersibility was achieved at a dispersant CMC concentration of 0.4%. When the dispersant CMC concentration was fixed at 0.4% and the binder PVA content at 10%, the best dispersibility was observed at a CF length of 3 mm, while the maximum tensile strength was achieved at a fiber length of 6 mm. Dispersibility remained almost consistent across different basis weights. As the dispersant CMC concentration increased from 0.2% to 0.6%, the oxygen functional groups, such as carbonyl group (C=O), lactone group (O=C-O), and natrium hydroxide (NaOH), also increased. However, hydroxyl group (C-O) decreased. Moreover, the contact angle decreased, while the surface free energy increased. On the other hand, when the dispersant CMC concentration was fixed at 0.4%, the optimal binder PVA content was found to be 3%. As the binder PVA content increased from 0% to 10%, the formation of hydrogen bonds between the CMC dispersant and the PVA binder led to an increase in C=O and O=C-O bonds, while C-O and NaOH decreased. As the amount of oxygen increased, the contact angle decreased and the surface free energy increased. Full article

The global socioeconomic challenge generated by wounds requires an understanding of healing and non-healing pathways in patients. Also, the interactions occurring between the wound dressing biomaterials with cells relevant to the healing process have not been sufficiently investigated, thus neglecting the role that wound dressing composition can play in healing. Through the study of six cases of acute surgical wounds, the present work analyses the early (24 h post-surgery) interactions of biochemical and cellular components with (i) Atrauman, a device made of knitted woven synthetic polymeric fibre when used as a primary dressing, and (ii) Melolin, a hydrocolloid engineered as two layers of synthetic and cellulose non-woven fibres when used as a secondary dressing. A pathway towards healing could be observed in those cases where endoglin-expressing cells and M2 macrophages were retained by Atrauman fibres at the interface with the wound bed. On the contrary, cases where the secondary dressing Melolin absorbed these cell phenotypes in its mesh resulted in a slower or deteriorating healing process. The data obtained indicate that a subtraction of progenitor cells by Melolin may impair the healing process and that the analysis of the retrieved wound dressings for biomarkers expressed by cells relevant to wound healing may become an additional tool to determine the patient’s prognosis. Full article

This article discusses the important issue of designing textiles for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. ESD protective textiles are used to prevent the failure of electronic circuits. They also safeguard human health and life in explosive environments. The textiles are usually made of woven, knitted, or nonwoven fabrics incorporating a grid or strips of conductive fibers within a base material made of cotton, polyester, or blends of these materials. Various testing standards have been developed to evaluate the suitability of textiles for ESD protection. One of the most widely used is the EN 1149-3 standard, which outlines procedures for recording charge decay plots. The procedure can be used to evaluate all types of textiles. This paper discusses models corresponding to the standard developed in the general-purpose COMSOL Multiphysics software. Using the advanced numerical methods of the software, it is possible to graphically present the phenomena occurring during the application of the standard procedure and to determine the influence of the grid and material parameters on the shape of the charge decay plots. Furthermore, this article compares charge decay plots and shielding effectiveness measured in an accredited laboratory with simulation results. Full article

In the present study, the influence of the electrical parameters of the pulsed electrospinning process, such as the electrical voltage, the frequency of pulses, and the pulse duration, on the structure of obtained nonwovens was determined for the first time. It was found that all the parameters studied strongly influence the average diameter of the obtained fibers and that the pulsed electrospinning process carried out under specific conditions makes it possible to obtain, among other things, bimodal nonwovens. A 2³ factorial design was used to determine how the selected electrical parameters of the pulsed electrospinning process affect the structure of the resulting electrospun mats. It is shown, among other things, that by appropriately selecting the parameters of the electrospinning process, the thickness of fibers can be controlled, resulting in nonwovens with a desired morphology. Full article

Despite its significant thermal requirements, melon is a vegetable species that holds the potential for expanding the crop range in temperate climate regions. The selection of appropriate varieties and agronomic practices facilitates its cultivation in these regions. This experiment, employing a randomized block design, was conducted from 2019 to 2021, and this study evaluated the response of three melon varieties—‘Seledyn F1’, ‘Melba’, and ‘Malaga F1’ (factor I)—to various mulching materials (factor II): black polyethylene film (PE), black polypropylene nonwoven (PP), biodegradable film (Fbio), and giant miscanthus straw. Control plots were left unmulched. Melon seeds were sown on 15 April, and seedlings were transplanted on 31 May at a spacing of 100 × 80 cm. This study assessed yield, fruit number, individual fruit weight, and vertical and horizontal fruit diameters. Under optimal conditions, the varieties Seledyn F1 and Malaga F1 produced fruits with the highest individual mass. The application of synthetic mulches led to a two-fold increase in fruit yield compared to unmulched plots, with a 23.7% increase in fruit number. On average, the largest fruits were obtained with PE mulch. Melons grown on Fbio mulch yielded, on average, 40% less and produced 18.8% fewer fruits compared to those grown with PE mulch. Full article

This research used end-of-use cotton apparel to develop mulch mats, a type of agrotextiles. The researchers collected and sorted end-of-use garments to obtain cotton textile waste. These end-of-use garments were deconstructed to obtain shredded textiles and big pieces of textiles. Using the textiles from deconstructed end-of-use garments, together with a small amount of new cotton fibers, the researchers used a Feltloom to develop needle-punched nonwoven fabrics that can be used as mulch mats. The researchers tested textile properties of these mulch mats and conducted agricultural field tests for weed control and pot tests for biodegradation. The researchers also tested the mulch mats’ soil moisture infiltration, and impact on water evaporation. The nonwoven mulch mats made from end-of-use garments have excellent weed inhibition capability and biodegradability. Compared to plastic mulch sheet, the nonwoven mulch mats are better for water utilization in rainfall watering and sprinkle irrigation but poorer in water conservation in drip irrigation. Considering durability, biodegradability, and soil temperature regulation, it is recommended to use 100% cotton and felt four times to produce mulch mats from end-of-use garments. Full article

The study investigated the biological properties of a composite material composed of poly(lactide) (PLA) and iron (Fe) produced by sputtering iron onto melt-blown poly(lactide) nonwoven fabrics. The research aimed to thoroughly understand the structure and properties of these materials and their potential applications in biomedicine. We conducted comprehensive chemical and structural analyses using techniques such as microscopic analysis, flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis to precisely determine the properties of PLA-Fe materials. Additionally, we evaluated their impact on blood coagulation processes by measuring activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT). We also performed biological analyses on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM cells) including cell viability and DNA damage. Our results clearly demonstrate that PLA-Fe materials do not significantly influence blood coagulation mechanisms, as they only slightly prolong aPTT time and have no effect on PT. This suggests their potential in biomedical applications. Our results indicate the absence of cyto- and genotoxic properties of PLA-Fe materials against normal blood cells. In conclusion, the research findings suggest that the novel poly(lactide) and iron-sputtered nonwoven fabrics are promising tools in the field of biomedicine, offering potentially innovative therapeutic solutions for the treatment of wounds and injuries. Full article

Nonwoven upholstery fabric is a waste product which is mainly generated during upholstered furniture production. The polyester composition makes it problematic to recycle and reuse this product. This study examined the manufacturing process of nonwoven fabric-reinforced plywood composites and their selected mechanical and physical properties. Nonwoven fabric was integrated between veneers bound with urea–formaldehyde resin to improve standard layered composites’ mechanical and physical properties. Several board variants were produced, differing in the position of the nonwoven layers in the composite structure. The composites were evaluated for modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bond, and screw withdrawal resistance, among others. The results showed that the addition of nonwoven fabric significantly improved some properties, like internal bond and screw withdrawal resistance. Variants with strategically placed nonwoven layers showed the highest performance increases. The results underscore the potential of nonwoven fabric as an effective reinforcing material, offering a path to developing high-performance plywood composites suitable for demanding applications. Another environmental advantage is that the nonwoven fabric waste used in the tested plywood production has not been subjected to burning or landfilling but, through its incorporation into plywood structure, has positively contributed to the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) policy. The findings advocate for a circular economy approach, in which industrial waste is effectively repurposed, contributing to the development of green materials in the wood-based composite industry. Full article

In response to the growing demand for lightweight yet robust materials in electric vehicle (EV) battery casings, this study introduces an advanced carbon fiber-reinforced composite (CFRC). This novel material is engineered to address critical aspects of EV battery casing requirements, including mechanical strength, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and thermal management. The research strategically combines carbon composite components with copper-plated polyester non-woven fabric (CFRC/Cu) and melamine foam board (CFRC/Me) into a sandwich-structure composite plus a series of composites with graphite particle-integrated matrix resin (CFRC+Gr). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed that the inclusion of copper-plated fabric significantly enhanced the stiffness, and the specific tensile strength of the new composites reached 346.8 MPa/(g/cm³), which was higher than that of other metal materials used for EV battery casings. The new developed composites had excellent EMI shielding properties, with the highest shielding effectives of 88.27 dB from 30 MHz to 3 GHz. Furthermore, after integrating the graphite particles, the peak temperature of all composites via Joule heating was increased. The CFRC+Gr/Me reached 68.3 °C under a 5 V DC power supply after 180 s. This research presents a comprehensive and innovative approach that adeptly balances mechanical, electromagnetic, and thermal requirements for EV battery casings. Full article

An open field experiment from November 2022 to May 2023 in Croatia, which is characterized by a continental humid climate, evaluated nonwoven mulches made from viscose, jute, and hemp fibres blended with PLA fibres. The blends of viscose and jute fibres (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30 ratios) were produced using mechanical web formation on cards with needle punching for bonding webs. Additionally, hemp fibres were blended with PLA fibres in a ratio of 80:20. Winter conditions caused significant structural changes in the mulches, including shrinkage, increased mass per unit area, thickness, and reduced air permeability. The amount of PLA fibre in the nonwoven mulch blends significantly affected nonwoven fabric structure change during exposure to winter conditions. After 180 days, the breaking force of all mulches increased by 30% to 277%. The soil beneath jute and hemp mulches maintained higher temperatures and moisture levels compared to viscose mulches. Soil organic carbon content varied with fibre type and was higher under jute and hemp mulches. K₂O content was significantly higher in soils covered by mulches. All mulches effectively suppressed weeds. The experiment results showed that the newly produced nonwoven mulches could replace the conventional agro foil. Results also suggest that choosing biodegradable nonwoven mulches produced from fibres obtained from natural and renewable sources can influence soil fertility and the availability of nutrients, ultimately affecting plant growth and agricultural productivity. Full article

The coffee industry is developing rapidly in the world, and the use of coffee filtration nonwovens (CFNs) is becoming more and more extensive; however, there is a lack of standards and research for its production and trade, and the quality of related products on the market is uneven at present. Here, eight double-layer composite coffee filtration nonwovens (D-LCCFNs) were prepared by using 5 g/m² and 10 g/m² polypropylene (PP) melt-blown nonwovens (MNs), 20 g/m² PP spunbonded nonwovens and 20 g/m² viscose/ES fiber chemically bonded nonwovens, and the physical properties, morphology and the filtration effect of coffee and purified water for the prepared samples were tested. It was found that the surface density of the microfiber layer (MNs) in the D-LCCFNs was negatively correlated with the coffee filtration rate; when the microfiber layer in the D-LCCFNs was in direct contact with the coffee, the liquid started to drip later, and the filtration rate of the coffee was slower; the filtration rate of the samples with the viscose/ES chemically bonded nonwovens was very fast. However, the samples without viscose/ES fibers basically did not filter pure water much, but they could filter out the coffee liquid normally, and the samples’ hydrophilicity increased significantly after filtering coffee. Full article