A waterproof and breathable nanofibrous membrane with thermal-regulated property for multifunctional textile application

In this work, a waterproof and breathable nanofibrous membrane with thermal-regulated performance and exhibits excellent mechanical property is fabricated by coaxial electrospinning. The fiber shell is consisted of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyvinyl butyral (PVB), and the core is octadecane. First, well-performed waterproof and breathable membranes are obtained by optimizing its morphology and pore structure. Then octadecane is loaded into the fibers in the form of core by coaxial electrospinning, though it gives the membranes a thermal regulating function, but the drawback is the sacrifice of overall properties. Thus, carbon nanotubes are loaded into the shell and studied, finally, the best membrane has a comprehensive performance with hydrostatic pressure of 59.2 kPa, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of 7.846 kg m(-2) d(-1), latent heat of 50.1 J g(-1), as well as excellent tensile strength of 20.2 MPa, which shows its certain reference significance to the synthesis of multifunctional membrane.

Automated summary

A waterproof and breathable nanofibrous membrane with thermal-regulated performance and excellent mechanical property was fabricated using coaxial electrospinning. By optimizing morphology and pore structure, well-performed membranes were obtained. Loading octadecane into the fibers for thermal regulation sacrificed overall properties, but adding carbon nanotubes improved comprehensive performance. The best membrane achieved a hydrostatic pressure of 59.2 kPa, WVTR of 7.846 kg m(-2) d(-1), latent heat of 50.1 J g(-1), and tensile strength of 20.2 MPa, showing reference significance for multifunctional membrane synthesis.