A three-dimensional moisture transport fabric and its preparation method and application

Abstract

The invention discloses a preparation method of a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric, specifically comprising the following steps: (1) first 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyl triethoxysilane is dissolved in ethanol, stirred, and then TiO2 nanoparticles are added, mixed, and a suspension is obtained; (2) cotton fabric is added to the suspension and soaked, taken out and cleaned, and aired to obtain a super-hydrophobic cotton fabric; (3) the outside of the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is subjected to ultraviolet irradiation, and a wetting gradient is constructed in the outside length direction; (4) the inside of the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is subjected to ultraviolet irradiation, and a wetting gradient is constructed in thickness direction. The present invention transports and manages moisture outside the fabric, which will be conducive to improving the comfort of the inside of the fabric, and avoids the fabric moisture management ability decline caused by water saturation outside the fabric.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of moisture management of microenvironment under clothing, and more particularly to a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric and a preparation method and application thereof. Background Art

[0002] Moisture management in the microenvironment beneath clothing is crucial for maintaining clothing performance and comfort. A high humidity microenvironment beneath clothing can cause discomfort, skin infections, elevated body temperatures, and stress reactions, adversely impacting human health and work efficiency. To prevent these adverse effects, clothing, as an intermediary between the human body and the environment, must effectively transport and manage moisture within the microenvironment in real time.

[0003] Generally speaking, the ideal solution is to remove excess moisture from the microenvironment through clothing. Researchers have employed various methods, including creating wetting gradients, wicking effects, and biomimetic principles, to induce directional moisture movement from the interior of clothing to the external environment while preventing reverse migration. However, this moisture management strategy appears to be difficult to implement in isolation protective clothing and may even be prohibited. This is because most isolation protective clothing is designed to prevent some interaction between the microenvironment beneath the garment and the external environment, thereby isolating the human body from external hazards or preventing substances within the microenvironment from contaminating the external environment. This characteristic of protective clothing makes it difficult for moisture within the microenvironment to be directly discharged to the external environment through the protective fabric, making traditional strategies for managing moisture in the microenvironment beneath the garment ineffective. A typical example is viral protective clothing. To prevent viruses from entering the microenvironment beneath the garment and infecting the human body, the protective fabric provides excellent isolation and protection, but at the same time, it hinders the escape of moisture from the microenvironment, resulting in a highly humid microenvironment beneath the garment. Furthermore, in certain environments requiring high cleanliness, the discharge of fluids such as sweat into the external environment may be undesirable. The protection requirements and fabric properties of isolation protective clothing limit the discharge of moisture in the microenvironment under the clothing, which will likely lead to an increase in humidity in the microenvironment, thereby affecting work efficiency and human health.

[0004] Therefore, how to achieve effective management of moisture in the microenvironment under the isolation protective clothing is an urgent problem that technicians in this field need to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric and a preparation method and application thereof to address the deficiencies in the prior art.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] A method for preparing a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric comprises the following steps:

[0008] (1) First, 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (C 14 H 19 F 13 O3Si, 97%) was dissolved in ethanol and stirred, and then TiO2 nanoparticles (P25; anatase / rutile, 85:15; 99.9%; 20 nm) were added and mixed to obtain a suspension;

[0009] (2) adding the cotton fabric into the suspension and soaking it, taking it out, washing it, and letting it air-dry to obtain a super-hydrophobic cotton fabric;

[0010] (3) irradiating the outer side of the superhydrophobic cotton fabric with ultraviolet light to construct a wetting gradient along the outer length direction;

[0011] (4) The inner side of the superhydrophobic cotton fabric is irradiated with ultraviolet light to construct a wetting gradient in the thickness direction, thus obtaining a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric.

[0012] The present invention uses hydrophilic cotton fabric as the starting material and pre-treats it with TiO2 nanoparticles coated with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTES) to impart a superhydrophobic finish. A gradual wetting gradient is formed along the length of the fabric's outer surface by continuously and evenly varying the UV irradiation treatment time. Then, uniform UV irradiation is used to establish a specific wettability on the fabric's inner surface, creating a wetting gradient through the fabric's thickness.

[0013] This three-dimensional water transport capability comes from the fabric's simultaneous wetting gradients across both its thickness and length. This creates an additional pressure differential from hydrophobic to hydrophilic regions, driving water transport toward the hydrophilic regions. Specifically, the dual hydrophilicity of TiO2 nanoparticles is exploited, and by altering the wetting properties of the fabric surface after TiO2 treatment (such as ultraviolet light treatment or plasma bombardment), a wetting gradient is created on the fabric surface. Key technical aspects include the following three aspects.

[0014] First, super-hydrophobic TiO2 nanoparticles are added to hydrophilic fabrics to transform them into super-hydrophobic fabrics. During this process, the uniform distribution of TiO2 nanoparticles on the cotton fabric surface must be ensured as much as possible, as this is crucial for the subsequent wetting gradient construction.

[0015] Second, through differential UV exposure, the TiO2 on the fabric surface undergoes a differential transformation from a hydrophobic to a hydrophilic state, partially restoring the inherent hydrophilicity of cotton fabric. Ultimately, a gradual wetting gradient is formed across the thickness and length of the fabric. The key to this process is establishing the associated variable factors. The present invention achieves this gradual wetting gradient by uniformly varying the UV exposure time.

[0016] Third, set an appropriate range of wetting gradient variation for the thickness and length of the fabric. Taking into account the efficiency of water absorption on the inner surface of the fabric, the wetting gradient distribution along the length of the outer side of the fabric, and the wetting gradient distribution along the thickness of the fabric, the contact angles of the inner and outer hydrophobic ends of the fabric and the outer hydrophilic end of the fabric can be set to approximately 100° (UV wavelength 253.7nm, 12min irradiation), 90° (UV wavelength 253.7nm, 13min irradiation), and 0° (UV wavelength 253.7nm, 30min irradiation), respectively. The wetting gradients along the thickness and length of the fabric can be adjusted according to the actual application.

[0017] The initial contact angle of the superhydrophobic finished cotton fabric is 153.2°, while the contact angle of the pure cotton fabric is 0°. The increase in the hydrophobic properties of the fabric is due to the nanostructured surface formed by the perfluorosilane-coated TiO2 nanoparticles. However, when the superhydrophobic finished fabric is irradiated with ultraviolet light, the wettability of its surface changes significantly. As the ultraviolet light exposure time increases, the contact angle of the hydrophobic fabric begins to decrease. After 25 minutes of irradiation (ultraviolet wavelength 253.7nm), the water droplets are quickly absorbed and cannot be measured. After 30 minutes of irradiation (ultraviolet wavelength 253.7nm), it becomes 0° (superhydrophilic). The illumination time and the change in contact angle show a good linear relationship as a whole, which will be beneficial to the construction of the subsequent gradual wetting gradient.

[0018] Furthermore, in the above step (1), the mass ratio of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane, ethanol and TiO2 nanoparticles is (1-3):(197-199):(3-5), preferably 2:198:3; and the stirring time is 2h.

[0019] Furthermore, in the above step (2), the soaking time is 5 to 10 minutes, preferably 5 minutes; the cleaning equipment is an ultrasonic cleaning machine; and the airing time is 10 to 20 minutes, preferably 10 minutes.

[0020] Furthermore, the above step (3) is specifically as follows: the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is placed parallel to the ultraviolet lamp, with the outer side facing the ultraviolet lamp, the distance is adjusted to 0 to 3 cm, the ultraviolet irradiation treatment is performed for 8 to 16 minutes, and then the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is conveyed at a uniform speed, and the conveying is completed within 12 to 20 minutes.

[0021] Furthermore, the above step (3) is specifically as follows: the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is placed parallel to the ultraviolet lamp, with the outer side facing the ultraviolet lamp, the distance is adjusted to 2.5 cm, the ultraviolet irradiation treatment is carried out for 13 minutes, and then the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is transported at a uniform speed, and the transport is completed within 17 minutes.

[0022] Furthermore, the above step (3) is specifically as follows: the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is placed obliquely under the ultraviolet lamp, with the outer side facing the ultraviolet lamp, the distance close to the light source end is adjusted to 0 to 2.5 cm, and the distance away from the light source end is adjusted to 2 to 5 cm, and the ultraviolet irradiation treatment is performed for 20 to 60 minutes.

[0023] Furthermore, the above step (3) is specifically as follows: the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is placed obliquely under the ultraviolet lamp, with the outer side facing the ultraviolet lamp, the distance close to the light source end is adjusted to 2.5 cm, and the distance away from the light source end is adjusted to 3.5 cm, and the ultraviolet irradiation treatment is carried out for 30 minutes.

[0024] Furthermore, the above step (4) is specifically as follows: placing the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric parallel to the ultraviolet lamp, with the inner side facing the ultraviolet lamp, adjusting the distance to 0-3 cm, and irradiating with ultraviolet light for 6-14 minutes.

[0025] Furthermore, the above step (4) is specifically as follows: the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is placed parallel to the ultraviolet lamp, with the inner side facing the ultraviolet lamp, the distance is adjusted to 2.5 cm, and the ultraviolet irradiation treatment is performed for 12 minutes.

[0026] Furthermore, in the above steps (3) and (4), the wavelength of ultraviolet irradiation is 100 to 400 nm, preferably 253.7 nm.

[0027] The present invention also claims protection for a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric prepared by the above preparation method.

[0028] The present invention also seeks to protect the use of the three-dimensional moisture transport fabric prepared by the above preparation method in the preparation of protective clothing.

[0029] It can be seen from the above technical solution that compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0030] The three-dimensional moisture transport fabric of the present invention can transport moisture from the inside of the fabric (close to human skin) to the outside of the fabric (close to the external environment), and further transfer the moisture for a second time on the outside of the fabric, and finally collect it in other auxiliary moisture storage mechanisms. Transporting and managing moisture on the outside of the fabric will help improve the comfort of the inside of the fabric and avoid the decrease in the moisture management ability of the fabric due to water saturation on the outside of the fabric. Therefore, applying the three-dimensional moisture transport fabric of the present invention to the multi-layer fabric system of protective clothing can effectively help the protective clothing to transport and manage moisture based on the internal microenvironment of the clothing, and help the protective clothing to improve the wearing comfort of the protective clothing without losing protective performance, improve work efficiency, and protect human health. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1A process flow chart of a method for preparing a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric;

[0032] Figure 2 Undergarment microenvironment moisture management strategies for three-dimensional moisture transport fabrics;

[0033] Figure 3 UV irradiation treatment time and surface wetting characteristics of the inner and outer sides of the three-dimensional moisture transport fabric (wavelength 253.7 nm);

[0034] Figure 4 is the relationship between the contact angle of the superhydrophobic cotton fabric surface and the UV irradiation time;

[0035] Figure 5 It is the diffusion state of water when the fabric is placed vertically;

[0036] Figure 6 It is the diffusion state of water when the direction of the wetting gradient is the same as the direction of gravity;

[0037] Figure 7 It is the diffusion state of water when the direction of wetting gradient is opposite to the direction of gravity;

[0038] Figure 8 This is the diffusion state of water on the original cotton fabric. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The following is a clear and complete description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0040] Example 1

[0041] The preparation method of the three-dimensional moisture transport fabric specifically comprises the following steps:

[0042] (1) First, 2 g of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane was dissolved in 198 g of ethanol and stirred for 2 h. Then, 3 g of TiO2 nanoparticles were added and mixed to obtain a suspension;

[0043] (2) adding the cotton fabric to the suspension and soaking it for 5 min, taking it out and cleaning it with an ultrasonic cleaner, and letting it air-dry for 10 min to obtain a superhydrophobic cotton fabric;

[0044] (3) A light box for ultraviolet irradiation treatment was prepared. A long ultraviolet lamp with a wavelength of 253.7 nm was installed on the top of the light box. A long stepper motor platform was installed directly below the ultraviolet lamp. The height of the ultraviolet lamp was adjustable. The distance between the ultraviolet lamp and the stepper motor platform was adjusted to 2.5 cm. The transmission speed of the stepper motor platform was set to 0.59 cm / min.

[0045] The super-hydrophobic cotton fabric was placed parallel to the stepper motor platform, with the outer side facing the UV lamp to receive ultraviolet irradiation treatment. After 13 minutes of ultraviolet irradiation, the stepper motor was turned on. The super-hydrophobic cotton fabric was then uniformly transported to the outside of the light box while receiving ultraviolet irradiation for the next 17 minutes. When the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric was completely transported to the outside of the light box, the wetting gradient along the outer length direction was completed.

[0046] (4) The super-hydrophobic cotton fabric was turned over and placed parallel to the stepper motor platform again, with the inner side facing the ultraviolet lamp. When the stepper motor was turned off, the inner side of the entire super-hydrophobic cotton fabric was irradiated with ultraviolet light for 12 minutes. The wetting gradient in the thickness direction was constructed, and a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric was obtained.

[0047] Example 2

[0048] The preparation method of the three-dimensional moisture transport fabric specifically comprises the following steps:

[0049] (1) First, 2 g of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane was dissolved in 198 g of ethanol and stirred for 2 h. Then, 3 g of TiO2 nanoparticles were added and mixed to obtain a suspension;

[0050] (2) adding the cotton fabric to the suspension and soaking it for 5 min, taking it out and cleaning it with an ultrasonic cleaner, and letting it air-dry for 10 min to obtain a superhydrophobic cotton fabric;

[0051] (3) A light box for ultraviolet irradiation treatment was prepared. A long ultraviolet lamp with a wavelength of 253.7 nm was installed on the top of the light box. The super-hydrophobic cotton fabric was placed obliquely under the ultraviolet lamp with the outer side facing the ultraviolet lamp. The distance close to the light source was adjusted to 2.5 cm, and the distance away from the light source was adjusted to 3.5 cm. The ultraviolet irradiation treatment was carried out for 30 minutes. The wetting gradient in the outer length direction was completed.

[0052] (4) The superhydrophobic cotton fabric was turned over and placed parallel to the UV lamp again, with the inner side facing the UV lamp. The distance was adjusted to 2.5 cm and the UV irradiation treatment was performed for 12 minutes. The wetting gradient in the thickness direction was completed, and a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric was obtained.

[0053] Performance Testing

[0054] To verify the water transport capacity of the fabric through its thickness and length, the three-dimensional water transport fabric (10 cm × 2.5 cm) prepared in Example 1 was placed vertically with the wetting gradient (from the hydrophobic end to the hydrophilic end) and gravity in the same and opposite directions. Water was dripped onto the target location inside the fabric at a rate of approximately 10 μL (approximately 30 μL / min) every 20 seconds for 25 times. A pristine cotton fabric served as a control. For easier observation, diluted red ink was added to the water.

[0055] The results are as follows Figure 5-8 shown.

[0056] Depend on Figure 5 It can be seen that when the fabric is placed vertically, the added water does not diffuse directly on the inner surface of the fabric. Instead, it is transported toward the outer surface due to the wetting gradient in the thickness direction. Specifically, the water droplets on the inner side of the fabric gradually become smaller and disappear completely after about 5 seconds due to transport to the outer side of the fabric. At the same time, a large amount of water appears on the outer side of the fabric and begins to be transported in a direction according to the distribution of the wetting gradient.

[0057] Depend on Figure 6 It can be seen that when the direction of the wetting gradient and the direction of gravity are the same, under the dual action of the wetting gradient and gravity, after the moisture is transferred to the outside of the fabric, it tends to diffuse toward the lower end of the fabric, and finally diffuses 2.1 cm and 6.4 cm toward the upper and lower ends of the fabric respectively compared to the initial dripping position.

[0058] Depend on Figure 7 It can be seen that when the wetting gradient is in the opposite direction of gravity, water diffuses counter-gravity on the outer surface of the fabric. This is mainly due to the continuous and smooth transition of the wetting gradient on the fabric surface. The water tends to diffuse toward the upper end of the fabric, and ultimately diffuses 4.8 cm and 1.9 cm above and below the fabric, respectively, from the initial drop position.

[0059] Depend on Figure 8 It can be seen that moisture diffuses on both the inside and outside of the original cotton fabric. Under the influence of gravity, moisture tends to diffuse toward the lower end of the fabric, and eventually diffuses 1.22 cm and 1.36 cm toward the upper and lower ends of the fabric, respectively, compared to its initial position.

[0060] These experiments demonstrate that, by creating a wetting gradient between the inside and outside of the fabric, the fabric exhibits significant three-dimensional moisture transport capabilities, consistent with the original design. The fabric with a three-dimensional wetting gradient can rapidly transfer moisture from the inside to the outside, and then perform secondary moisture transport along the outside along the length of the fabric.

[0061] The above description of the disclosed embodiments is intended to enable one skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown herein but is intended to conform to the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric, characterized in that: The specific steps include: (1) 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane was first dissolved in ethanol and stirred, and then TiO2 nanoparticles were added and mixed to obtain a suspension; (2) adding the cotton fabric into the suspension and soaking it, taking it out, washing it, and letting it air-dry to obtain a super-hydrophobic cotton fabric; (3) The super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is placed parallel to the ultraviolet lamp, with the outer side facing the ultraviolet lamp, and the distance is adjusted to 0-3 cm. The ultraviolet irradiation treatment is performed for 8-16 minutes. Then, the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is transported at a uniform speed, and the transport is completed within 12-20 minutes, and a wetting gradient is constructed in the outer length direction; Alternatively, the super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is placed obliquely under a UV lamp, with the outer side facing the UV lamp, the distance close to the light source is adjusted to 0-2.5 cm, and the distance away from the light source is adjusted to 2-5 cm, and the UV irradiation treatment is performed for 20-60 minutes to construct a wetting gradient in the outer length direction; (4) The super-hydrophobic cotton fabric is placed parallel to the ultraviolet lamp with the inner side facing the ultraviolet lamp, the distance is adjusted to 0-3 cm, and the ultraviolet irradiation treatment is performed for 6-14 minutes to construct a wetting gradient in the thickness direction to obtain the three-dimensional moisture transport fabric.

2. The method for preparing a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (1), the mass ratio of 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane, ethanol and TiO2 nanoparticles is (1-3): (197-199): (3-5); and the stirring time is 2 hours.

3. The method for preparing a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (2), the soaking time is 5 to 10 minutes; the cleaning equipment is an ultrasonic cleaning machine; and the airing time is 10 to 20 minutes.

4. The method for preparing a three-dimensional moisture transport fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (3) and step (4), the wavelength of the ultraviolet irradiation is 100 to 400 nm.

5. A three-dimensional moisture transport fabric prepared by the preparation method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Use of the three-dimensional moisture transport fabric prepared by the preparation method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in the preparation of protective clothing.

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