Highly Permeable, Directional Water Transport Cotton Fabrics

Abstract

Abstract A novel concept of preparing directional water transport cotton fabrics with high air permeability even if at a fully wetted state is demonstrated here. A two‐step electrospraying technique is employed to form a superhydrophobic pattern array on cotton fabric at the first step followed by single‐side electrospray treatment. The superhydrophobic pattern plays key roles not only in maintaining the cotton fabric at a high air permeability in wet state but also in enhancing one‐way transport capacity. In comparison to the single side electrosprayed fabric, which shows directional water transport property without superhydrophobic pattern, the one with a superhydrophobic pattern has 1.89 times higher one‐way transport index, whereas its air permeability is just reduced by 1.8% when it is wetted with water. This novel concept may be useful for design of high performance moisture management fabrics for various applications.