PP/PA6 Blend Fibers with Tailored Gradient and Applied in Woven Fabrics to Enhance Personal Thermal and Moisture Regulation

Personal thermal and moisture regulation is crucial for maintaining body comfort in the textile field. The tailored gradient morphology of fibers, based on polypropylene (PP) and polyamide 6 (PA6) as raw materials, is used to fabricate single-layer fabrics, demonstrating excellent thermal and moisture regulation capabilities. The key characteristic of the tailored gradient morphology is that the degree of enrichment of the dispersed phase (PA6) gradually increased from the surface to its interior. This structure facilitated moisture permeation from the hydrophobic outer layer to the hydrophilic inner core, followed by diffusion into the external environment. Furthermore, the capillary action induced by PA6-formed groove structures on the fiber surface synergistically enhanced the water transport process. The results showed that the tensile strength of PP/PA63-12% fiber reached 3.1 cN/dtex. And then, the water droplet diffusion time and unidirectional water transport capability (R) of PP/PA63-12% fabric were 0.4 s and 448.12%, respectively. Notably, the fabric surface temperature after water absorption increased by 2.5 °C compared to that of the PP fabric. Additionally, the fabric withstood 30 min washing at room temperature and exhibited resistance to chemical corrosion. This tailored gradient morphology design demonstrates significant potential in the advanced fashion market by achieving thermal and moisture regulation through controlled radial PA6 distribution.