Waterproof Network‐Structured Coatings via a Facile One‐Step Fabrication Route Toward Highly Breathable Textiles

ABSTRACT In this study, we develop breathable waterproof (BW) coated textiles with network‐structured polyurethane coatings on common woven fabric substrates via a simple yet useful one‐step fabrication route integrating hydrophobicity by the in situ introduction of fluorinated chemicals into the coating solution. The on‐demand regulation of lyophobic network architecture is enabled by tuning the incorporation depth of water droplets into the coating solutions through adjusting the concentrations of fluorinated acrylates. The impacts of fluorinated additive contents of the coating solutions on the structure–property relationships of the network‐coated fabrics are investigated. Benefiting from interconnective channels (porosity of 57.1%), small apertures (mean pore size of 3.52 μm), and strong hydrophobicity (water contact angle of 138.6°), the optimal networks provide the resultant coated fabrics with outstanding breathability (water vapor transmission rate of 2834 g m −2 d −1 ) and good waterproofness (hydrostatic pressure of 3.71 kPa). Overall, this study not only proposes a straightforward fabrication strategy for BW network coatings but also offers a versatile platform for the development of functional polymer‐coated materials for various applications, including sportswear, wound dressing, wearable electronics, and beyond.