Superelastic and fluorine-free nanofiber membranes prepared by one-step electrospinning for waterproof and breathable applications

Waterproof and breathable membranes (WBMs) possessing high mechanical properties are widely sought after for a variety of applications. However, their manufacture still presents challenges in terms of environmental protection and process simplification. Herein, we present a facile way of developing fluorine-free and superelastic WBMs. The in-situ integration of poly(methylhydro-siloxane) and poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) simultaneously satisfies the required mechanical properties, waterproofness, and breathability. The resultant membranes possess excellent tensile properties, exhibiting a breaking strain of 557.7% and stress of 3.98 MPa. Further investigations reveal the membranes demonstrate excellent breathability (3303.7 g m-2 d-1) and hydrostatic pressure (70.9 kPa) while maintaining their comprehensive performance even under large tensile strains. The innovation of superelastic WBMs with stable properties holds promising application prospects in numerous fields.