Integrated High Barrier and Efficient Moisture-Wicking Multilayer Textile for Medical and Health Protection

Developing textiles with rapid moisture-wicking capability is a potential and effective solution to the poor comfort of medical and health-protective clothing. However, designing protective clothing that combines safety and comfort remains a crucial and formidable task. Herein, a moisture-wicking protective fibrous membrane (MWPFM) with a dual-gradient structure manufactured by electrospinning and electrostatic spraying techniques is proposed. Interestingly, the protective layer with a small pore structure and an extremely hydrophobic effect can block water, blood, and ethanol. Additionally, the textile is designed in a multilayer configuration with a wetting gradient and pore structure gradient, ensuring comfort. The MWPFM exhibits excellent protective properties (ethanol contact angle of 115°, hydrostatic pressure of 14.8 kPa) and comfort (breathability of 46.8 mm s −1 , water vapor transmission rate of 5.9 kg m −2 d −1 ). In addition, compared with the commercially available high-density polyethylene protective membrane, MWPFM displays a distinct comfort advantage. This work provides a fresh avenue to improve the thermal-moisture comfort of medical and health-protective clothing.