Novel lightweight and flexible functional textile based on PVDF and [Im, PF6] developed via the electrospinning technique

Lightweight functional textiles play a crucial role in the development of modern protective clothing. Unlike traditional multi-layer systems, which tend to increase weight considerably, lightweight functional textiles offer a revolutionary alternative, they preserve the lightness of the protective clothing while maintaining its effectiveness especially in situations where mobility is crucial, such as emergency response or rescue operations. Herein we develop lighter and more flexible functional textiles through the electrospinning process, while using a low volatile and eco-friendly solvent. The research was divided into two separate phases. The first one examined the properties of electrospun films using poly(vinylidene fluoride) PVDF and different concentrations of the ionic liquid 3-hexyl-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-iumhexafluorophasphate (v) [Im; PF6]. The evaluations covered the surface chemistry, morphology, wettability, thermal decomposition and fire resistance of films. It was found that the 3 % ionic liquid film had a contact angle of 100.4° and showed excellent fire resistance. The second part of the research involved the functionalization of cotton by applying the optimal concentration of the ionic liquid using electrospinning. The modified cotton was hydrophobic, with a contact angle increasing from 90° to 136°, and highly fire resistant. This finding indicates that electrospinning can successfully and efficiently fix the ionic liquid onto cotton in a single step.