A team of researchers from Donghua University, led by Professors Xianfeng Wang and Bin Ding, has engineered a new class of protective textiles with advanced breathability and liquid repellency. Detailed in Nano-Micro Letters, the team’s innovation—highly permeable, protective textiles (HPPT)—addresses the challenge of delivering both comfort and safety in medical garments. These HPPTs exhibit high air (14.24 mm/s) and moisture permeability (7.92 kg/m²/day) while maintaining strong resistance to liquid penetration (hydrostatic pressure of 12.86 kPa), exceeding the performance of many commercial materials.
The HPPTs are produced using a non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method enhanced by calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and fluorinated polyurethane (FPU), followed by application of a three-proof finishing agent (TRG) for added hydrophobicity. This technique forms an optimized micro/nano-network with an average pore size of 1.03 µm and porosity of 69%, ensuring a dry, comfortable microenvironment for the wearer.
The material boasts excellent durability, withstanding over 1,000 abrasion cycles and 100 wash cycles while preserving its protective qualities. It also offers strong repellency to water (WCA: 131°), blood (BCA: 126°), oil (OCA: 104°), and ethanol (ECA: 85°). Its tensile strength (65.56 MPa) is more than five times that of traditional HDPE membranes.
Thermally stable up to 50 °C and containing antibacterial agents, the HPPT shows great promise for smart wearables, bio-antiviral fabrics, and applications requiring radiative cooling or interface with electronics. The material is scalable across woven, nonwoven, and knitted fabrics, supporting broad use in medical apparel, emergency gear, and industrial safety wear.
This breakthrough not only enhances current protective standards but also lays the groundwork for future smart textile integrations. Professors Wang and Ding’s ongoing work at Donghua University signals further advancements in multifunctional and sustainable medical textiles.