Robust and Flexible Polyurethane Composite Nanofibers Incorporating Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Produced by Solution Blow Spinning

Abstract

Using a technique called solution blow spinning, polyurethane-carbon nanotube-based composite nanofibers are fabricated. These composite nanofibers exhibit uniform diameter, even with increasing polyurethane density, with the use of a dual-solvent mixture during spinning. It is possible to produce the fibers at a high production rate even after the addition of a large amount of carbon nanotubes with a uniform size distribution of 300-400 nm. In addition, for composites with 3 wt% carbon nanotubes, the tensile strength, elongation, and elastic strain energy increase to 102, 166, and 167%, respectively, compared to pure PU nanofibers. The thermal stability improves as well. The prepared composite nanofibers could potentially be used as an inter-reinforcing agent in carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics and as a buffer, and in the biomedical field.