Breathable and Colorful Cellulose Acetate-Based Nanofibrous Membranes for Directional Moisture Transport

Abstract

Textiles with excellent moisture transport characteristics play key role in regulating comfort of the body, and use of color in textiles helps in developing aesthetically pleasing apparels. Herein, we report an aesthetically pleasing and breathable dual-layer cellulose acetate (CA) based nanofibrous membranes with exceptional directional moisture transport performance. The outer layer was synthesized by subjecting CA nanofibers to hydrolysis and reactive dyeing processes, which converted moderately hydrophobic CA nanofibers into uniformly colored superhydrophilic CA nanofibers with an excellent wettability. In addition to excellent wettability and superhydrophilic nature, dyed CA (DCA) nanofibers also offered high color yield and dye fixation as well as considerable colorfastness performance against washing and light, thus, were used as the outer layer. However, pristine CA nanofibers were chosen as the inner layer for their moderate hydrophobicity. The subsequent CA/DCA nanofiber membrane produced a high wettability gradient, which facilitated directional moisture transport from CA to DCA layers. The resultant dual-layer nanofiber membranes offered a high color yield of 16.33 with ∼82% dye fixation, excellent accumulative one-way transport capacity (919%), remarkable overall moisture management capacity (0.89), and reasonably high water vapor transport rate (12.11 kg d m), suggesting them to be a potential substrate for fast sweat-release applications.

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

“…The resultant showed that the capillary motion in the porous nanofibers can be further enhanced. Babar et al reported a kind of colorful and breathable dual‐layer cellulose acetate/dyed cellulose acetate nanofiber membrane with directional water transport performance. The developed membrane not only exhibited excellent directional water transport performance but also occupied esthetically pleasing appearance.…”

Novel Water Harvesting Fibrous Membranes with Directional Water Transport Capability

“…[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Our previous works have reported the preparation of hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic gradient fabrics that can guide directional water-transport from the hydrophobic to the hydrophilic side. In research literatures, the directional water transport was also termed "one-way water transport," "directional wicking," [33][34][35] or "water diode." In research literatures, the directional water transport was also termed "one-way water transport," "directional wicking," [33][34][35] or "water diode."…”

“…[31,32] Such a unidirectional water penetration phenomenon was also reported by other researchers. In research literatures, the directional water transport was also termed "one-way water transport," "directional wicking," [33][34][35] or "water diode." [36][37][38][39][40] Almost all the directional water transport membranes have a hydrophobic layer on one side and a hydrophilic layer on the other, a typical feature of Janus membranes.…”

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.…”