Breathability Enhancement of Electrospun Microfibrous Polyurethane Membranes through Pore Size Control for Outdoor Sportswear Fabric

Abstract

Electrospinning of polyurethane (PU) is widely used to fabricate breathable fabrics for applications in outdoor sportswear, and can be used to produce a highly porous structure, which is an essential property of a breathable fabric. To increase the breathability of the fabric, herein we describe the use of a metal mesh as the ground electrode in place of the conventional planar electrode during electrospinning. This electrode geometry results in an electric field that leads to the electrospun fibers being predominantly stacked over the metal wires of the mesh, with fewer fibers over the holes, resulting in larger pores in the membrane. The average pore size and thickness of the membrane were compared with those of a membrane fabricated using a conventional planar electrode. A quantitative analysis performed according to the Korean Industrial Standards (KS) indicated improved breathability.