Hydrophobic/oleophobic fabrics with directional liquid transport property

Abstract

Described are fabrics and articles of manufacture. Also described are methods of making the fabrics. A fabric may exhibit directional liquid transport. The fabrics have a plurality of domains. A domain may connect a first side of the fabric and a second side of the fabric that is opposite the first side. The plurality of domains may have a gradient in concentration of hydrophobic and/or oleophobic groups. The fabrics may include nanoparticles. The fabrics may be made by exposing selected areas of a superhydrophobic and/or oleophobic fabric to an oxygen or air plasma.

1 . A fabric exhibiting directional liquid transport comprising a plurality of domains, each of the domains connecting a first side of the fabric and a second side of the fabric opposite the first side,
 wherein each of the domains has a gradient in concentration of hydrophobic and/or oleophobic groups and, optionally, a plurality of nanoparticles disposed on a fabric surface.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of domains comprise 0.1-75 wt % of the surface area of the fabric and the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic groups comprise 1-75 wt % of the fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein each of the domains is characterized by a gradient in hydrophilicity and/or oleophobicity along a direction from the first side of the fabric to the second side of the fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic groups are fluoroalkyl groups, alkyl groups, silsesquioxane groups, siloxane groups, or a combination thereof, and the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic groups are covalently bound to a surface of one or more nanoparticles of the plurality of nanoparticles. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic and/or oleophobic groups are connected to the fabric surface via one or more covalent bonds. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles are chosen from titania nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles, carbon nanoparticles, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the individual domains of the plurality of domains have a round shape, rectangular shape, oval shape, kidney shape, triangular shape, star shape, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein each of the domains has a size of 100 microns to 5 mm, wherein each of the domains has the same size or each of the domains has a different size. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises natural fibers, synthetic fibers, semi-synthetic fibers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is a knitted fabric, a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . An article of manufacture comprising one or more fabric of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The article of manufacture of  claim 11 , wherein the article of manufacture is a wearable article or an outdoor article. 
     
     
         13 . The article of manufacture of  claim 12 , wherein the wearable article is chosen from rainwear, outerwear, outdoor clothing, sportswear, skiwear, hiking wear, under garments, socks, t-shirts, hats, gloves, mittens, jackets, coats, and ponchos. 
     
     
         14 . The article of manufacture of  claim 12 , wherein the outdoor article is chosen from tents, awnings, tarps, and sleeping bags. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a fabric exhibiting directional liquid transport, comprising:
 exposing selected areas of a superhydrophobic and/or oleophobic fabric to an oxygen or air plasma, such that one or more domains exhibiting a water and/or oil transport gradient from a first side of the fabric to a second side of the fabric opposite the first side of the fabric are formed,   
       wherein a superhydrophobic and/or oleophobic fabric exhibiting directional liquid transport is formed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fabric has a hydrophobic and/or oleophobic coating. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the superhydrophobic and/or oleophobic fabric is formed by:
 contacting a fabric or a portion thereof with:
 one or more hydrophobic group precursors and/or one or more oleophobic group precursors, 
 optionally, a plurality of nanoparticles, and 
 optionally, a solvent 
   
       wherein the superhydrophobic and/or oleophobic fabric is formed. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more hydrophobic group precursors and/or one or more oleophobic group precursors, optionally the plurality of nanoparticles, and optionally the solvent are present as a preformed mixture. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophobic group precursors and/or oleophobic group precursors are 1-100 wt % of the fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophobic group precursor is chosen from fluoroalkyltrialkoxysilanes, silsesquioxanes, polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMSs), polyolefins, waxes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the fluoroalkyltrialkoxysilane is chosen from  1 H, 1 H, 2 H, 2 H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTES),  1 H, 1 H, 2 H, 2 H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (PFTDS),  1 H, 1 H-perfluorooctylamine (PFOTA), perfluorooctylated quaternary ammonium silane coupling agent (PFSC),  1 H, 1 H, 2 H, 2 H-perfluorooctyltrichlorosilane (PFOTS), poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE),  1 H, 1 H, 2 H, 2 H-perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane (PFODS),  1 H, 1 H, 2 H-perfluoro-1-dodecene (PFDDE), (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)trichlorosilane (FDTS), perfluoroalkyl methacrylic copolymer (PMC), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of nanoparticles are chosen from titania nanoparticles, silica nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles, carbon nanoparticles, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the exposing selected areas of the superhydrophobic and/or oleophobic fabric to an oxygen or air plasma is performed utilizing a masking material having a plurality of apertures, wherein the apertures correspond to the selected areas.