Unidirectional moisture-conducting green fabrics prepared by a one-step electrospray technique

Abstract

Unidirectional moisture-conducting fabrics were prepared by electrospraying polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) onto three green fabric substrates, namely cotton, hemp, and modal. Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of coating thickness, coating material, and substrate material on the moisture conductivity of the fabrics. The electrospraying technique was effective in forming uniform and strongly adhered PVDF and PVC coatings on the fabric substrates, and the coating thickness and material type had a significant effect on the fabric's moisture conductivity. The PVDF and PVC coatings significantly improved the unidirectional moisture conductivity of the fabric substrates, and although the unidirectional moisture conductivity effects differed among the substrates, all fabrics exhibited high directional water transport capacities (R values greater than 300%), high air permeabilities, and high water vapor transmission rates. Cotton and hemp substrates coated with hydrophobic layers showed more efficient unidirectional moisture transfer than modal fabrics. This study demonstrated that appropriate coating design and substrate selection can significantly improve the moisture conductivity of fabrics, providing a valuable reference for the development of high-performance functional textiles.