Mussel-inspired fabrication of nonwovens using fluoride-free profiled fibers for directional water transport

Fabrics with directional water transport performance have attracted considerable attention in daily life. They are in high demand, owing to their ability to transport sweat away from the skin to improve personal comfort. However, the fabrication of such materials has still remained a critical task. This article reports a nonwoven with the directional water transport function, achieved using a synergistic combination of a microstructure and a wettability gradient. The three-step fabrication strategy involves needling bonding of Y cross-section polyamide fiber webs with two needling densities (30 and 190 needle/cm ² ), followed by single-sided spraying of polydopamine–silicon carbide powder–polyethyleneimine dispersion and a fluoride-free hydrophobic agent. Using fiber webs with different needling densities endows the nonwoven fabric with a differential capillary effect, enhancing the directional water transport property. The unique microstructure achieves the directional water transport property by improving permeability at lower needling densities and hindering transport through a denser needling density in the reverse direction. At the same time, the wetting gradient effect promotes water transfer from the hydrophobic surface to the hydrophilic surface. The successful preparation of these interesting directional water transport materials offers new insights into the role of fibrous materials, the needling density of nonwovens, and the development of highly comfortable moisture-wicking textiles.