PLA 기반 필터 부직포와 Spunbond 및 Polypropylene 부직포의 조합에 따른 효율 및 차압 특성 연구

Abstract

As the demand for masks explodes due to the COVID-19, a huge amount of discarded undegradable masks are being generated. In particular, conventional polypropylene (PP)-based filters are not biodegradable and studies have shown that their several washings significantly reduce the filtration performance due to the loss of electrostatic charge. This increases the demand for sustainable alternatives such as environmentally friendly material. This study investigated that the potential of eco-friendly and biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as a core material for filter media filter fabrics were evaluated by combining PLA melt-blown nonwoven fabric with two types of polypropylene (PP) melt-blown filters (H13-grade and E11-grade) and spunbond (SB) layers, SB–PLA–MB(E11)–SB and SB–PLA– MB(H13)–SB. The physical and filtering properties, including filtration efficiency, pressure drop, and air permeability, were analyzed. Structural characteristics were further examined using scanning electron microscopy and particle measurement analysis. From the results, the SB–PLA–MB(E11)–SB structure demonstrated the most balanced performance, achieving high filtration efficiency with a low pressure drop of 56.7 Pa. The SB– PLA–MB(H13)–SB showed the highest filtration efficiency with good air permeability, which is suitable for high-performance filtration applications. Although PLA has relatively low electrostatic retention due to its hydrophilic nature, it showed good performance by an optimized multilayer design.These results suggest that PLA-based filter structures can be applied not only in respiratory protective equipment, but also in reusable mask filters, pre-filters, and HVAC systems, offering a partially sustainable and practical alternative to traditional PP filters.