Mechanical behaviors and characterization of electrospun polysulfone/polyurethane blend nonwovens

In the present study we investigated the relationship between the morphology and mechanical properties of electrospun polysulfone (PSF)/polyurethane (PU) blend nonwovens, by using the electrospinning process to prepare three types of electrospun nonwovens: PSF, PU and PSF/PU blends. The viscosity, conductivity and surface tension of the polymer solutions, were measured by rheometer, electrical conductivity meter and tensiometer, respectively. The electrospun PSF/PU blend nonwovens were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and with a universal testing machine. The SEM results revealed that the electrospun PSF nonwoven had a structure consisting of cross-bonding between fibers, whereas the electrospun PU nonwoven showed a typical, point-bonding structure. In the electrospun PSF/PU blend nonwovens, the exact nature of the point-bonding structure depended on the PU contents. The mechanical properties of the electrospun PSF/PU blend nonwoven were affected by the structure or the morphology. With increasing PU content, the mechanical behaviors, such as Young's modulus, yield stress, tensile strength and strain, of the electrospun PSF/PU blend nonwovens were involved by up to 80%.