The Effect of Laundering on the Thermal and Water Transfer Properties of Mass-produced Laminated Nanofiber Web for Use in Wear

Abstract

Nanofiber web produced via mass production electrospinning has many potential applications due to its large specific area, very small pore size, and high porosity. Despite such potential, the application of nanofiber web has been limited on account of its poor mechanical properties. In our previous study, the mechanical properties of laminated nanofiber web were investigated, and it was found that the mechanical properties of nanofiber web are sufficient for use as cloth in outdoor wear if a laminating process is used in its production. In this study, we focus on the use of nanofiber web as a breathable fabric. The purpose of this study is to measure the functional properties of mass-produced nanofiber web, and then to investigate any change of those functional properties that may occur as a result of laundering. The measured functional properties include the water transfer properties of waterproofness and vapor permeability as well as the thermal transfer properties of warm/cool feeling and thermal conductivity. We conclude that the maintenance of nanofiber web morphology despite repeated laundering allows for the retention of the water and thermal transfer properties of the material.

Properties of Antibacterial Nano Textile for Use in Hospital Environments

“…This method allows to determine the passage of water vapor through plastic films, which are not more than 32mm of thick [23,30,31,33,34,41].…”

Protective Clothing Based on Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes

“…Copyright © 2007, SAGE Publications. f, g: Reprinted with permission from Kimura et al [25]. Copyright © 2010, SAGE Publications) Kang et al first used direct electrospinning of PU onto the substrate fabrics (polyester/nylon blended fabric, which contained stainless steel yarn in weft) to prepare the waterproof-breathable fabric.…”

“…They suggested that the hot-melt laminating method is more suitable for nanofiber web lamination and the maintenance of nanofiber web morphology despite repeated laundering allows the retention of the water and thermal transfer properties of the material (Fig. 14.2f, g) [25,27]. Yoon et al developed the waterproof-breathable materials by fabricating layered fabric systems with varying composite structures.…”

Hot-melt Adhesive Bonding of Polyurethane/Fluorinated Polyurethane/Alkylsilane-Functionalized Graphene Nanofibrous Fabrics with Enhanced Waterproofness, Breathability, and Mechanical Properties

“…Here, hydrophobic hexadecyltrimethoxysilane-functionalized graphene oxide (FG, hydrophobic agent) and low-melting thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU, fiber binders) were introduced into PU/FPU electrospinning solutions. The introduction of the hydrophobic FG sheet structure and the formation of the inter-fiber fusion structure by TPU improved not only the waterproofness but also the mechanical performance of the nanofiber WB fabric, which would be an appropriate candidate in various applications, especially for fabricating of protective garments and self-cleaning materials [26][27][28].…”