Preparation and Performance Evaluation of Superhydrophobic, Oleophobic, and Breathable Fabrics Treated With Cationic Fluoropolyacrylate Finishing Agents

ABSTRACT Given the wide application prospects of functional fabrics, finishing agents with excellent self‐cleaning properties and high air permeability are required. Hence, fluoropolyacrylate (FDM x ) finishing agents were synthesized via semicontinuous seed emulsion polymerization using dimethyldiallylammonium chloride, perfluorohexyl ethyl acrylate, and other acrylic monomers. Their structures were characterized via Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, particle size analysis, and X‐ray diffraction. Their performance was tested via surface‐tension, contact‐angle, and air‐permeability measurements; self‐cleaning test; and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the agent with 0.2 mol PEA (FDM 0.2 ) exhibited the best performance (particle size = 54.25 nm; surface tension = 20.85 mN/m—69.26% higher than that of FDM 0 ). Due to FDM 0.2 's low surface energy, the FDM 0.2 ‐treated fabric exhibited water and kerosene contact angles of 157° and 144°—52.3% and 60.1% higher than those of the FDM 0 ‐treated fabric, respectively. The surface of the treated fabric soaked in a methylene blue solution and mud for 8 h remained uncontaminated, indicating FDM 0.2 's excellent self‐cleaning ability. The treated fabric exhibited good moisture resistance and high air permeability alongside enhanced durability under mechanical wear, chemical corrosion, and continuous xenon‐lamp irradiation. Thus, FDM 0.2 shows good application prospects in functional textile industry and military field.