Chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of UV-curable cellulose acetate butyrate-based oligomers and their electrospun fibrous mats

In this research, toluene diisocyanate-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (TDI-HEMA) adduct was used to modify the hydroxyl groups on cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) structure. The obtained oligomer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopies, and gel permeation chromatography, respectively. Then, the UV-cured free films of the modified CAB oligomers were investigated in terms of thermal degradation, physicochemical, wettability, and mechanical properties. The chemical modification process was performed in various percentages; then, the contribution of the unreacted hydroxyl groups of CAB on the wettability, thermal degradation, and air/water vapor permeability properties were all investigated. The mechanical properties, thermal stability, and surface wettability character of pure CAB were improved with TDI-HEMA adduct modification. Electrospinning was used to obtain a fibrous layer in order to search the air/water vapor permeability properties. Modification of CAB caused decline in air/water vapor barrier character and thus enhanced the permeability properties.