Tailoring Differential Moisture Transfer Performance of Nonwoven/Polyacrylonitrile‐SiO₂ Nanofiber Composite Membranes

Abstract

Liquid moisture (sweat) transport properties of textile materials play critical role in maintaining the comfort of body which are mainly controlled by surface chemistry, structure, and morphology of substrate. Herein, a dual layer surface treated nonwoven (NW)/electrospun nanofiber membrane with excellent differential liquid moisture transport characteristics is reported. NW is used as inner layer for its high moisture releasing and low moisture absorbing features, and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as outer layer because of its decent hydrophilic nature. Wettability of NW is tailored by surface treatment with polydopamine, and the wicking characteristics of PAN nanofibers are enhanced by inducing hydrophilic SiO2 nanoparticles (PAN‐SiO2). Performance of resultant surface treated NW (TNW)/PAN‐SiO2 nanofiber composite membranes is thoroughly characterized by moisture management tester (MMT). Subsequent composite membranes offer high wettability gradient which leads to their marvelous MMT performance with an outstanding one‐way transport capacity of 1413%, excellent overall moisture management capacity of 0.99, and a decent water vapor transfer rate of 12.73 kg m−2 d−1, indicating a potential candidate for faster sweat release applications.

Bioinspired Soot‐Deposited Janus Fabrics for Sustainable Solar Steam Generation with Salt‐Rejection

“…This confirms that the light was focused on the top layer with soot during exposure. Moreover, the superhydrophilic side is superaerophobic under water, the vapors tend to leave the downside of the fabric to upside which can also increase the evaporation rate . At the end of the experiment, the temperature of the interface reaches ≈40 °C.…”

“…Moreover, the superhydrophilic side is superaerophobic under water, the vapors tend to leave the downside of the fabric to upside which can also increase the evaporation rate. [44] At the end of the experiment, the temperature of the interface reaches ≈40 °C. Convention heat loss ratio (R c ) and radiation heat loss ratio (R r ) are two relevant parameters to be measured for estimating the efficiency of the system.…”

Application of surface wettability modified polypropylene nonwoven in Janus composite fibrous mats for the function of directional water transport

“…In order to make PP have certain wettability, the methods of coating and chemical grafting are usually used in the modification of the PP surface. Generally, the method of dipping is applied to form the hydrophilic coating, such as dopamine coating, on the strong hydrophobicity surface . However, the hydrophilic coating is easy to fall off, which could make the surface performance return to its primitive state.…”

Waterproof and Breathable Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes

“…Apart from protective clothing, W&B nanofibrous membranes could also be upgraded to possess directional water transport property, thereby holding great promise for the next generation of quick-dry sportswear (Figure 10a). [128,129] Conventional direction water transport fabrics are capable of transmitting body water and moisture mono-directional, thus the perspiration is pulled away from the skin to the atmosphere rapidly. However, they are typically devoid of effective waterproofness in the inverse direction, resulting in poor protective function.…”