Preparation and property of polyurethane/nanosilver complex fibers

Highlights: • Utilizing terminal reactive groups in polyurethane, nanometer silvers were reduced in situ. And the PU/nanosilver complex fibers were produced by dry spinning. • The influence of nanosilver on the properties of PU was studied. • It is inferred that 0.030% Ag should be a proper concentration for the PU/nanosilver complex fibers with favorable mechanical properties and highly effective antibacterial activities. - Abstract: Utilizing terminal reactive groups in polyurethane, nanometer silvers were reduced in situ. The formation mechanism of nanosilver in PU was under preliminary discussion. UV–vis spectroscopy and TEM analysis were used to monitor reduction process; and the PU/nanosilver complex fibers were produced by dry spinning, which were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and so on. The influence of nanosilver on the thermal, mechanical and antimicrobial properties of PU was studied. It is inferred that 0.030% Ag should be a proper concentration for the PU/nanosilver complex fibers with favorable mechanical properties and highly effective antibacterial activities