Development and antiultraviolet properties of epoxidized styrene–butadiene–styrene nanofibers loaded with nanometer titania dioxide

The epoxidized styrene–butadiene–styrene nanofibers, which were prepared by epoxidation of the styrene–butadiene–styrene in toluene with peroxyformic acid generated in situ, were successfully embedded with nanometer titania dioxide by electrospinning. The optimum blended electrospinning parameters on preparing the nanometer titania dioxide/epoxidized styrene–butadiene–styrene fibers were obtained. The morphology and antiultraviolet property of nanometer titania dioxide/epoxidized styrene–butadiene–styrene composite fiber were examined using scanning electron microscope and an antiultraviolet transmission tester according to American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC183-2004) standard. The scanning electron microscope results showed that nanometer titania dioxide and the epoxy group could lead to the cementation of electrospinning fibers. The ultraviolet protection factor of rutile nanometer titania dioxide/epoxidized styrene–butadiene–styrene fiber membrane is the largest one of the four fiber membranes. The epoxidized styrene–butadiene–styrene nanofibers embedded with nanometer titania dioxide have great potential in the applications of antiultraviolet textiles.