Scalable fabrication of multifunctional polylactic acid fibrous membranes with enhanced superhydrophobicity and radiative cooling performance

Abstract

The disadvantages of traditional bio-based materials melt centrifugal spinning, such as low efficiency, long cycle and poor performance, limit its industrialization process. Herein, a scalable strategy was proposed for the fast and scale fabrication of bio-based melt centrifugal spinning fiber. The polymer melt was continuously transported to the high-speed rotating centrifugal disk, where it was rapidly conveyed and separated. The separated melt was then drawn and cooled by the synergistic supergravity and high-pressure cyclone field, resulting in formatting a nonwoven fabric by self-bonding alone with a diameter of ∼3 μm. Compared to conventional white CVC fabrics, the fabricated polylactic acid fibrous membranes demonstrated exceptional biocompatibility (cell viability of 98.7%), radiative cooling properties and favorable emissivity (94.1%), which can reduce the covered object temperature by 4.6 °C during hot summer. Furthermore, the water vapor transmission rate, moisture regain, water absorption, and boiling water shrinkage rate of PP20/8-F are 39.98 g m-2 h-1, 2.31%, 2.09%, and 8.11%, respectively, meeting the comfort requirements of wearable fabrics. The robust superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 153±1° provides excellent antifouling and self-cleaning properties. This novel bio-based material melt centrifugal spinning method provides a viable strategy for the industrial preparation of high-performance and functionalized fibrous.