Application of melt‐blown technology for the manufacture of temperature‐sensitive nonwoven fabrics composed of polymer blends PP/PCL loaded with multiwall carbon nanotubes

The main aim of this research was to detail the use of melt‐blown technology to manufacture a temperature‐sensitive nonwoven fabric. The sensor properties of the fabric were achieved by application of the optimal composition of immiscible polymer blends loaded with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). As the sensing phase, a dispersion of MWCNTs in poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) was used. The sensing phase was blended with a matrix made of polypropylene (PP). Three different polymer compositions were subjected to the melt‐blowing process, changing the proportion of the matrix polymer to the dispersed phase to the range of 50–70% and changing the MWCNTs content to be between 1.2 and 2%. The selection of technological parameters was based on the thermal characteristics of the polymers used. Nonwoven fabrics made of these composites were characterized by measuring their electrical properties as a function of external stimuli. In particular, their responses to cycle changing of temperature in a range of 20–80°C were monitored. The 70%PP/28.8%/1.2%MWCNT nonwoven fabrics were observed to show the best sensitivity to changes in temperature between 50 and 60°C.