Innovative material applications in clothing design research

Abstract

With the improvement of living standards, there is a growing demand for clothing that offers both comfort and functionality. Nanomaterials have emerged as a hot topic in clothing design due to their unique structure and performance characteristics. In this study, we develop a composite nanofabric with exceptional water resistance and breathability using polyurethane (PU), fluorinated polyurethane (FPU), and polyvinyl butyral (PVB), namely PU-FPU-PVB composite nanofabric. The mechanical properties, wettability, waterproofing, and thermal comfort are evaluated. The results demonstrate that optimizing the TPU and PVB contents is crucial for obtaining PU-FPU-PVB composite nanofabrics with exceptional performance. Low TPU concentrations fail to provide sufficient viscosity for even dispersion within the hot melt adhesive mesh film, while higher concentrations enable better dispersion due to increased viscosity provided by TPU. Additionally, increasing the content of PVB from 0 wt% to 100 wt% led to decreased moisture permeability from 10.5 kg ·m−2 · d−1 to 3.0 kg ·m−2 · d−1 during thermal comfort testing. Its permeability dropped from 22.5 mm/s to 2.8 mm/s under these conditions. These findings indicate that our designed composite nanofabric exhibits excellent thermal comfort when incorporating appropriate levels of PVB into its composition, making it an ideal high-performance material for waterproof and breathable fabrics with superior comfort and functionality in clothing design applications. In conclusion, PU-FPU-PVB composite nanofabrics hold great potential for fostering the innovative advancement of nanomaterials in the realm of clothing design.