Practical Investigation 3.

1
Water Repellent Test
Which materials are the most waterproof?

Background:
Water repellent materials are useful for outerwear such as rain jackets. It is often desirable for high
performance rain jackets to be breathable in rainy conditions. To meet this criterion, water repellent is
often applied to a breathable fabric, which helps prevent the outer layer of the garment from becoming
soaked with water (which would hamper breathability). How is the water repellency of different materials
tested, and how are the results compared?

Materials:
● 2 litre pop bottle with cap
● A large safety pin or a 0.040” drill
● A small pot, pail, embroidery hoop, or another
suitable alternative to hold fabric
● Elastic band or a large hose clamp
● Fabrics to test. Blue colours can be easier to rank
than black or white. Waterproofing products
Fig. 1: Water Repellant Raingear1
applied to the fabrics can also be tested.
● A measuring cup (size 1 cup)
● Pair of sticks with tape, a board with a hole, or another method to support the spray funnel
● A tub to hold enough water for testing.
● Sandpaper (optional)
● Sink (optional)

Procedure
1. Work in your online learning group for the entire practical investigation. However, record all
observations in your own Practical Investigation eBook worksheets for PI3.1.
2. A simple homemade apparatus that you can assemble to test water repellency of different fabrics
involves a spray funnel that dispenses 1 cup of water onto the tested material (angled downwards) in
approximately 30 seconds. Then, the observed wetting of the material can be compared to standard
photographs that allow a score to be assigned to rank the water repellency of the material. Figure 2
shows an example set-up for a water repellency test. The set-up described in the steps below uses
common household items.

©2020 Chadron M. Friesen, Ph.D, Christy Peters, Julia Burgess & Shane Durbach, PhD
Procedure (Cont.)
3. First, you will prepare the spray funnel. To do this, cut the bottom off the 2L pop
bottle so that with the cap facing downwards, it can comfortably hold 1 cup of
water. Pierce the lid of the pop bottle with small, equally spaced holes. Certified
spray nozzles for water repellency tests have 19 holes. You may find that 19 holes
results in the water to drain too quickly, and so you may need to adjust the number
or size of the holes in order to allow 1 cup of water to drain in approximately 30
seconds. There are various methods that you can use to create the spray funnel,
including using a large safety pin to pierce the lid, or using a 0.040” drill. The Fig. 2: Desired angle
holes may need to be adjusted if streams of water overlap (sandpaper may be of test material2
useful if plastic burrs from creating the holes are causing the water streams to
overlap).
4. Find a way to tightly suspend your test material over a circular frame. A small pot,
pail, embroidery hoop, or another suitable alternative may work well. Secure the
material over the circular frame using an elastic band or a large hose clamp if you
are using a small pot or pail. The material should be pulled tightly enough across
the frame so that you can bounce a coin off the material.
5. Suspend the test material at a 45o angle downwards from horizontal (Fig. 3). This
could be done by simply propping the pot, pail, or embroidery hoop up on the side
of a sink. Fig. 3: Desired angle
6. Suspend the spray funnel approximately 6 inches above the center of the circle of of test material

test material. This can be done by using a pair of long sticks with tape, or by suspending the funnel
from a sink faucet.
7. The water used for this test should be room temperature. To test your apparatus, fill the funnel with 1
cup of water and ensure that all the water streams fall within the centre of the circle of fabric. When
the water has finished draining, gently tap each side of the funnel twice to remove the final drops of
water.
8. Following the procedure in step 6, test your desired fabrics. You could test fabrics with and without
applying waterproofing products or water repellent jackets. Try to select materials that you suspect
will have significantly different water repellant abilities. Assign a score to the material by comparing to
the standard photographs in Table 1. Record your results in Table 2.

©2020 Chadron M. Friesen, Ph.D, Christy Peters, Julia Burgess & Shane Durbach, PhD
9. Submit a picture of each material before each test is performed, as well as a picture taken within 30
seconds after each test is performed. It is best to take the before and after pictures in the same
lighting and position each time.

Place Photos Here:

Before After 30 seconds Before After 30 seconds

Fabric 1 Fabric 1 Fabric 2 Fabric 2

Fabric 3 Fabric 3 Fabric 4 Fabric 4

10. Submit an electronic photo of your apparatus below.

©2020 Chadron M. Friesen, Ph.D, Christy Peters, Julia Burgess & Shane Durbach, PhD
Table 1: Water repellency scoring chart according to American Association of Textile Chemists and
colorists (AATCC) guidelines. Standard photographs obtained from Reference 3.

Standard Photograph Description Score

Total wetting of both the lower Score = 0
and upper surface of material

Complete wetting of the entire Score = 50

top surface of the material

Partial wetting of the top surface Score = 70

of the material

Top surface of material wet Score = 80

where water streams hit

Top surface of material slightly Score = 90

wet, or a few water droplets
stuck to upper surface

Top surface of material not wet at Score = 100

all, no droplets stuck to upper
surface

©2020 Chadron M. Friesen, Ph.D, Christy Peters, Julia Burgess & Shane Durbach, PhD
Procedure (Cont.)
Table 1: Scores of tested materials for water repellant performance

Waterproofing product Score (assigned by

Material Tested Type of Fabric used? (If yes, include comparing to standard
identity of product) photographs)
Fabric 1

Fabric 2

Fabric 3

Fabric 4

11. Discuss your results. Why were some materials more water repellant than others? Consider the
composition of the material as well as the waterproof coating (if applicable). Did your results line up
with your expectations for how the materials would perform?
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12. What challenges did you encounter in this Practical Investigation? Did these challenges affect your
results?
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13. What is the difference between waterproof and water-repellent materials? Look up their chemical
structures and compare differences and similarities.
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©2020 Chadron M. Friesen, Ph.D, Christy Peters, Julia Burgess & Shane Durbach, PhD
Procedure (Cont.)

14. If you used one or more waterproofing products on your material(s), what is the composition of these
products? Why do these products confer water repellency or waterproofing to the material? Please
cite any sources you used.
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15. What is a hydrophobic material? What are other applications for such materials (that are not already
mentioned in this Practical Investigation)? Please cite any sources you used.
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Clean Up:
Recycle the plastic from the 2L pop bottle (according to local guidelines). Set the materials aside to fully
dry before returning them to their proper place.

References:
1. REI Co-op: How does Waterproof Raingear Work? https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-
advice/rainwear-how-it-works.html (accessed May 2nd, 2020).
2. TextileLearner: Determination of Water Repellency by Spray Tester.
https://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2012/02/water-repellency-water-repellent.html (accessed
May 2nd, 2020).
3. Atsko: Fabric Water Repellent Test. http://www.atsko.com/diy-fabric-water-repellent-test/
(accessed May 2nd, 2020).

©2020 Chadron M. Friesen, Ph.D, Christy Peters, Julia Burgess & Shane Durbach, PhD