Keratin/poly (vinyl alcohol) blended nanofibers with high optical transmittance

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 58; pp. 146 - 152
• Main Authors: Choi, Jawun, Panthi, Gopal, Liu, Yanan, Kim, Jongwan, Chae, Su-Hyeong, Lee, Chohye, Park, Mira, Kim, Hak-Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 10.02.2015
• Subjects: Alcohols; Blended; Electrospinning; Hair; Human; Keratin; Keratins; Modulus of elasticity; Nanofibers; Opacity; Tensile strength; Electrospinning; Nanofibers; Keratin
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2014.12.052

In this paper, we presented the fabrication of human hair derived keratin/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite nanofibers exhibiting high optical transmittance by using simple and versatile electrospinnig technique. Keratin was extracted from human hair by sulphitolysis process and glyoxal solution was used as crosslinking agent in the system. More interestingly, the high optical transmittance (∼88% at a wave length of 600 nm) of the composite was achieved by simply immersing it in water without adding any additive. Furthermore, the tensile strength and Young's Modulus of the transparent composite nanofibers were also found to be increased (19 and 272.8 MPa) as compared to the PVA nanofibers (10.7 and 72.4 MPa). [Display omitted] •Highly optically transparent composite NFs were fabricated by electrospinning.•Transparent human hair/PVA NFs exhibit highly optical transparency about 88%.•Transparent NFs show relatively higher mechanical strength and thermal stability.