Plant structured textile fabrics

The unique internal structure and network of plants are responsible for their superb water transpiration ability. Here we show that the emulation of the plant structure in textile fabrics can bring about a new type of material, which has very fast initial water absorption and water transmission rate through it (The water transmission rate can be 2-3 times of the evaporation rate from the free water surface). The material is therefore ideal for application as clothing fabrics, since it can efficiently facilitate the transport of sweat from the skin so as to keep the wearer dry and comfortable. It would also be an excellent covering material for applications such as carpets, manmade grass, and geotextiles, because of its advantage in keeping the under-covered area dry. This work provides a unique example of how the superb transport mechanisms of the plant structure can be applied in engineering materials. (c) 2006 Elsevier BY All rights reserved.