Electrospun non-woven fabrics

As a means of incorporating the fiber sensors into systems, incorporation of in-line fiber sensors into non-woven fabrics was explored. In order to incorporate an in-line sensor into a textile fabric, a spun-bonded base fabric was taken and an in-line fiber sensor was placed on top of it. Subsequently, non-woven fibers of polyurethane were electrospun on top of the optical fiber sensor to hold the sensor fiber in its position, thereby incorporating it in a non-woven fabric matrix. The electro-spinning was carried out at a voltage of 18 KV using a solution of polyurethane in the solvent DMP. 

Ohkawa K., Kim H., Lee K. Biodegradation of electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) non-woven fabrics by pure-cultured soil filamentous fungi, J. Polym. Environ. 12 (2004) 211. 

The electrospun polymeric nanoflbers have large surface area and porous structure as non-woven fabrics, which are excellent candidates to support semiconductor nanoparticles for photocatalysis. The loading of semiconductor nanoparticles on the surface of polymeric nanoflbers could prevent their application. Therefore, there are many reports for the fabrication of polymeric nanoflbers containing semiconductors by electrospinning technique in the past two decades. 

Another advantage of using electrospun cellulose derivatives non-woven mats is the significant decrease in production costs associated with the fabrication of these type of devices, since the amount of raw materials is much smaller and polarizers and surface treatment are not needed. 

Thuy TTN, Lee JG, Park JS (2011) Fabrication and characterization of coaxial electrospun polyethylene glycol/polyvinyUdene fluoride (core/sheath) composite non-woven mats. Macro-molRes 19(4) 370-378. doi 10.1007/sl3233-011-0409-8... 

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