Polyurethane Composite Membranes

Abstract

Fibrous nanostructured polyurethane composite membranes were developed using electrospinning process. Membranes of polyurethane having silver and zinc oxide as additives were prepared by electrospinning of solutions having dimethylformamide (DMF) or its mixture with tetrahydrofuran (THF) (50:50 volume ratio) as solvent. Morphology of the fibers was characterized by using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, showing fiber diameters from 200 to 800 nanometers. Antibacterial properties were tested by eluting solutions of E.coli at different concentrations through the membranes.