Structural Design and Performance Analysis of 3D Tubular Thermosiphon Knitted Fabric for Moisture and Sweat Capture With Directional Delivery

ABSTRACT Current quick‐drying clothing evaporates quickly but the human body also creates a wet and cold sensation. Aiming to improve such situation, 3D tubular fabrics (A3,A4) are designed based on the thermosiphon mechanism with elastic hydrophobic BN/ZnO/PDMS@N/S‐6 and cotton yarns on the V‐bed flat knitting machine. Tubular structures are formed through arranging the elastic yarn to knit float stitches, while the cotton yarns to knit tuck and normal ones. The material and structure in the fabric contribute to the directional transport route of sweat on the surface synergistically. The property of sample A4 is optimal with results showing that a 5 µL droplet of artificial sweat traveled up to 2.6 cm longitudinally, which is 26 times farther than that laterally. Besides this, sample A4 also has excellent performance in moisture capture. Sample A4 showed the highest average moisture and liquid collection weight (8,225 mg) and Water Harvesting Rate (WHR = 2,056 mg/cm 2 h), approximately 2.6 times higher than that of sample A1. Headbands and wristbands made of sample A4 distributed 1 mL of artificial sweat across four tubular channels, expanding the diffusion area sixfold and achieving a maximum transport distance of 6 cm. After 25 times machine wash cycles, the directional transport performance remained still high, with 5 µL of artificial sweat moving 2.3 cm. Additionally, sample A4 behaved antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus due to the presence of BN/ZnO/PDMS@N/S‐6. The design and performance of the 3D tubular fabrics are advantageous to the development and applications of moisture capture and transport.