RECYCLING POLYURETHANE (PU) AND HIGH IMPACT POLYSTYRENE (HIPS) AS AIR FILTERS USING BLOWSPINNING METHOD

• Main Author: Muzakki
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/71653
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The aim of this research is to address the issue of air pollution, which has a negative impact on human respiratory health, particularly particles less than 2.5 ?m in size. Furthermore, high levels of waste production is also an environmental problem that needs to be addressed. One solution proposed in this study is the use of air filters made from recycled waste through the method of blow spinning using Polyurathane (PU) and High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) as materials. In the initial stage, the effect of physical parameters on the morphology and mechanical properties of the membrane will be studied. Afterwards, multi-layer membranes made of different materials will be created to increase the quality factor and Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS). The results of the study showed that concentration has the most significant effect on fiber diameter, and the distance of work has the most significant effect on UTS membrane. Using the composite method, the team was able to create masks with better mechanical properties and efficiency than single-layer membranes. The composite membrane managed to increase the break strain from 8% to 70% and the UTS from 0.20 to 0.53 MPa compared to the HIPS membrane. Furthermore, the efficiency value of the composite membrane increased from 68% to 97.3%. In addition, the composite membrane has superhydrophobic wettability properties which are suitable for air filters.