Nano-Wettability Engineering in Textiles
category
Nano-wettability engineering controls textile surface energy and topography at nanoscale to achieve superhydrophobicity (WCA >150°, roll-off <10°), superhydrophilicity (WCA <5°), or Janus wettability (directional moisture transport). Hierarchical micro-nano roughness is created by SiO₂ nanoparticle (20–100 nm) deposition combined with low-surface-energy fluorosilane overcoat (surface energy 10–15 mN/m) achieving Cassie-Baxter wetting regime. Oil-water separation textiles with underwater superoleophobicity (oil WCA >150° in water) use TiO₂ or SiO₂ hydrophilic nanocoatings. Janus membranes (hydrophobic face/hydrophilic face) achieve one-way moisture transport efficiency of 500–2,000% in wicking speed ratio. ZDHC MRSL v3.0 restricts PFAS chemistry, accelerating development of PFC-free fluorine-free nano-wettability systems at performance parity.
Role
Engineers textile surfaces at the fundamental wetting level to create directional moisture transport sportswear, self-cleaning outdoor fabrics, and oil-water separation membranes for environmental remediation using nanoscale surface architecture rather than bulk chemistry.