Facile fabrication of fluorine-free waterproof and breathable nanofiber membranes with UV-resistant and acid-alkali resistant performances

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 685; p. 133310
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yunhe, Ren, Gaihuan, Nie, Gaowei, Hu, Shenpeng, Li, Dongxiang, Sun, Wen, Li, Zhanzhao, Cui, Zhenhua, Lu, Dongxu, Shi, Xiaohan, Li, Longwei, Yu, Hongqin, He, Jianxin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 20.03.2024
• Subjects: One-step electrospinning; Poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene); UV resistance; Waterproof and breathable; UV resistance; Poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene); Waterproof and breathable; One-step electrospinning
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.133310

Membranes with good waterproofness and breathability are desired for the preparation of outdoor sports garments. However, current waterproof and breathable membranes use environmentally hazardous fluorine-containing raw materials and suffer from many problems such as complicated preparation processes and single function. Therefore, it is a great challenge to select environmentally friendly raw materials to prepare multi-functional membranes with waterproof-breathable performance by simple preparation method. In this paper, fluorine-free poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS), polyurethane (PU), and 2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxy benzophenone (UV531) were selected to prepare multi-functional nanofiber membranes by convenient one-step electrospinning. The properties of the environmentally friendly multi-functional SBS/PU/UV531 nanofiber membranes were systematically optimized by adjusting the concentration of UV531 in the nanofiber membranes. The ultimately obtained multi-functional SBS/PU/UV531–2 nanofiber membrane shows excellent waterproofness (hydrostatic pressure: 58.8 kPa), high breathability (WVT rate: 5.2 kg m−2 d−1), good mechanical properties (breaking strength: 7.26 MPa, breaking elongation: 327.9%), excellent UV resistance (UPF: 238.23), and strong acid and alkali resistance properties. This multi-functional nanofiber membrane has broad application prospects in a variety of fields such as outdoor protective clothing, extreme environment materials, and military products. [Display omitted] •Fluorine-free hydrophobic SBS/PU/UV531 nanofiber membranes were prepared by simple one-step electrospinning.•SBS gives SBS/PU/UV531 nanofiber membrane excellent high elasticity and resistance ability to acid and alkali.•The addition of UV531 improved the waterproofness and UV resistance of the SBS/PU/UV531 nanofiber membrane.