Eriyikten Üfleme Yöntemiyle Üretilmiş TPU Nanolif Bazlı Hava Filtrasyon Membranlarının Performans Değerlendirmesi

Öz

Artan sanayileşme ve iklim kaynaklı olaylar hava kirliliğini, insan sağlığını tehdit eden önemli çevresel sorunlardan biri hâline getirmiştir. Bu kapsamda, yüksek partikül tutma kapasitesine sahip, düşük basınç kaybı sunan nanolifli filtre malzemeleri, temiz hava elde etmede kritik öneme sahiptir. Bu çalışmada, melt-blowing (MB) yöntemiyle yüksek üretim hızlarında termoplastik poliüretan (TPU) bazlı nanolifli yüzeyler çözücü kullanılmadan üretilmiş ve hava filtrasyonu uygulamaları açısından performansları değerlendirilmiştir. Deneysel çalışmalar, üç farklı seviyede belirlenen besleme hızı (1, 5, 10 rpm), kalıp (nozül) sıcaklığı (220, 240, 260 °C) ve hava basıncı (1, 2, 3 bar) parametreleri doğrultusunda, Taguchi L9 ortogonal deney tasarımı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Üretilen nanolifli yüzeylerin morfolojik analizleri taramalı elektron mikroskobu (SEM) ile yapılmıştır. Ortalama lif çapları, filtrasyon verimlilikleri, basınç düşüşleri, hava geçirgenlikleri ve kalite faktörleri karşılaştırılmıştır. 1 rpm besleme hızı, 260 °C nozül sıcaklığı ve 3 bar hava basıncı ile üretilen numune, 423 ± 47 nm ortalama lif çapı ile %82,12 filtrasyon verimliliği ve 95 Pa basınç düşüşü sunarak en iyi performansı göstermiştir. Ayrıca bu numune, uygulanan %5, %10 ve %20 gerinim altında da filtre performansı test edilmiş; en yüksek gerinim seviyesinde dahi %71,44 oranında filtrasyon verimliliği göstererek fonksiyonel dayanıklılığını korumuştur. Elde edilen bulgular, MB yönteminin çevre dostu, hızlı, ölçeklenebilir ve çözücü içermeyen bir üretim süreci olarak TPU esaslı nanolifli hava filtreleri üretiminde önemli bir alternatif sunduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Nanolif
• Hava filtresi
• TPU
• Eriyikten üfleme

Performance Assessment of Meltblown TPU Nanofiber-Based Air Filtration Membranes

Öz

Air pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental challenges, primarily driven by rapid industrialization and climate-related phenomena. Within this context, nanofiber-based filter materials offering high particle capture efficiency and low pressure drop (ΔP) play a crucial role in ensuring access to clean air. In this study, nanofibrous filter surfaces based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were fabricated via the melt-blowing (MB) technique a solvent-free and high-throughput production method. The experimental design was structured using a Taguchi L9 orthogonal array, considering three processing parameters at three levels each: feeding rate (1, 5, and 10 rpm), die (nozzle) temperature (220, 240, and 260 °C), and air pressure (1, 2, and 3 bar). The morphological characteristics of the produced nanofibers were examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Their AFDs, filtration efficiencies, pressure drops (ΔP), air permeabilities, and quality factors (QFs) were systematically compared. The sample produced under the optimal conditions -1 rpm feeding rate, 260 °C die temperature, and 3 bar air pressure- demonstrated the best performance, achieving a filtration efficiency of 82.12% and a ΔP of 95 Pa, with an average fiber diameter (AFD) of 423 ± 47 nm. Moreover, this optimal sample was subjected to mechanical strain levels of 5%, 10%, and 20%, and successfully preserved its functional integrity, maintaining a filtration efficiency of 71.44% even at 20% elongation. These findings highlight the potential of the melt-blown process as an environmentally friendly, rapid, scalable, and solvent-free method to produce high-performance TPU based nanofibrous air filters.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Nanofiber
• Air filter
• TPU
• Melt-blowing

Kaynakça

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