See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/348162370

A short overview on water repellency for textiles

Article · January 2021

CITATIONS READS
0 5,921

3 authors, including:

Saif Uddin H. Kabir

Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology
2 PUBLICATIONS 0 CITATIONS 2 PUBLICATIONS 0 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Saif Uddin on 03 January 2021.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 A short overview on water repellency for textiles
Md. Saif Uddina, Md. Aminur Islamb, H. Kabirc
a Department of Textile Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh.
b Department of Textile Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh.
c Department of Textile Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh.

Abstract
Waterproofing is defined as the property of a material not to be penetrated by fluids.
The waterproofness of a fabric can be measured using two testing methods one that
simulates raining and the other (more common) that subjects the fabric to hydrostatic
pressure. Water repellent textiles are often high-density woven materials made of
very fine yarns or common materials with hydrophobic surface treatment. Water
repellency is therefore a step up from water resistance. This means that water can't
easily penetrate the material (the technical term is that it's hydrophobic). It beads on
the outside instead.
This writing will discuss about some techniques for water repellency of textile
materials.

Introduction
To improve quality of fabric and development of technical qualifications the anxiety
of textile engineers always increasing. Water repellent is such an important textile
finish or property that adds an additional effect on the fabric. Water repellents are
also chemical finishes that retains textile material from wetting and also protect the
other comfort ability (Walz and Fox, 1943). The droplet of water molecules tends to
spread out over the fabric mainly depends on the contact angle between water
molecule and fabric surface. Actually, this property adds on the fabric by providing
a thin layer on the fabric surface that abstains water droplet from fabric wetting.
There are many important sectors where these water-repellent textiles are applicable
such as industrial, consumer and apparel purpose. This chemical finish also permits
the passage of air or moisture through the fabric.

1
Water Repellent Finish
Repellent finishes achieve their properties by reducing the free energy at fiber
surfaces. If the adhesive interactions between a fiber and a drop of liquid placed on
the fiber are greater than the internal cohesive interactions within the liquid, the drop
will spread. If the adhesive interactions between the fiber and the liquid are less than
the internal cohesive interactions within the liquid, the drop will not spread. Surfaces
that exhibit low interactions with liquids are referred to as low energy surfaces. Their
critical surface energy or surface tension γC must be lower than the surface tension
of the liquid γL (the internal cohesive interaction) that is repelled.
Chemistry of Water Repellency
Compounds formed by reacting stearic acid and formaldehyde with melamine
constitute another class of water-repellent materials. The hydrophobic character of
the stearic acid groups provides the water repellency, while the remaining N-
methylol groups can react with cellulose or with each other (crosslinking) to generate
permanent effects. Advantages of the stearic acid–melamine repellents include
increased durability to laundering and a full hand imparted to treated fabrics. Some
products of this type can be effectively applied by exhaustion procedures. Their use
as extenders for fluorocarbon repellents is now increasingly replaced by boosters7
as described. Disadvantages of stearic acid–melamine repellents include problems
similar to durable press finishes (a tendency to exhibit finish mark-off, decreased
fabric tear strength and abrasion resistance, changes in shade of dyed fabric, and
release of formaldehyde).
Mechanism of Water Repellency
There are different ways that low energy surfaces can be applied to textiles. Such as-
1. Mechanical incorporation of the water-repellent products in or on the fiber
and fabric surface, in the fiber pores and in the spacing between the fibers and
the yarns. Examples of these are paraffin emulsions.
2. Chemical reaction of the repellent material with the fiber surface. Examples
of these are fatty acid resins.
3. Formation of a repellent film on the fiber surface. Examples of these are
silicone and fluorocarbon products. The final approach is to use special fabric
constructions6,8 like stretched polytetrafluoroethylene films (Goretex), films
of hydrophilic polyester (Sympatex) and microporous coatings (hydrophilic
modified polyurethanes).

2
Methods of Water Repellency
New SA/TDI/PEG adducts were prepared by reacting mixture of stearyl alcohol
(SA) and polyethylene glycols (PEG’s 400, 1000, 2000, and 6000 Da) with 2,4-
toluene di isocyanate (TDI). The optimum conditions of synthesis reaction are:
PEG/SA, 20%; TDI/SA, 20%; reaction temperature, 100 °C and reaction time,
90 min. The potential application of such prepared adducts as water repellent
finishes for cotton/PET fabric was examined by incorporating of 40 g/l of these
adducts emulsions in different easy-care finishing formulations. Results obtained
indicated an enhancement in both the water repellency as well as softness properties
along with stiffness properties of treated fabric. FTIR analysis confirms the
SA/TDI/PEG1000 adduct chemical structure while the TEM image of its emulsion
shows that the emulsion of particle size ranges from 2 to 54 nm. Moreover, the
surface of SA/TDI/PEG1000 adduct treated fabric was characterized via scanning
electron microscope (SEM). Except for SA/TDI/PEG400 adduct, the prepared
adducts treated fabric show durability to washing up to 10 washing cycles [1].

Fluorine containing water-repellent agents—fatty acid trifluoroethyl esters were

prepared by modification of different vegetable oils—castor oil, palm oil, and
soybean oil via a reaction of hydrolysate of vegetable oil with 2,2,2-trifluoro ethanol.
The structures of the modified vegetable oils were characterized by FT-IR. With
contact angle, time for water to disappear, whiteness, and breaking strength as
indicators, the optimum finishing processes of cotton fabrics with each modified
vegetable oil were studied. The results showed that the cotton fabrics treated with
the modified vegetable oils demonstrated excellent water repellency, while the
whiteness and breaking strength of the fabrics reduced a little. The fabrics treated

3
with modified palm oil exhibited the highest water repellency among all treated
fabrics. All the treated fabrics showed good durability of water repellency after 5
cycles of washing, the contact angle remained about 90° or even higher, among
which the durability of fabric treated with modified soybean oil was the best [2].
Plain woven fabrics in two blends were chosen to investigate the effects of water-
repellent finishes on woven fabric properties. The fabrics were treated with different
types of water repellents at different concentrations. The levels of water repellency
of the fabrics were measured in accordance with the AATCC 22 (1996) spray test
method. To evaluate the effect of water-repellent finishes on the woven fabric
properties, breaking strength, abrasion resistance, pilling, light fastness, washing and
perspiration tests of the fabrics were performed using relevant British Standards,
ASTM and ISO standards. Wetting time of the fabrics was also measured before and
after abrasion, washing and perspiration tests to evaluate performance and durability
of the treatments. The results, evaluated using SPSS statistical program, showed that
the water-repellent finish type and concentrations were very important parameters
to obtain water repellent fabric having acceptable use properties [3].
A silicone alloy water repellent finish was made by the simultaneous polymerization
of tetravinyl silane and methyl hydrogen siloxane carried out in four different
solvents. The rate of polymerization was greater in two ketone solvents than in two
hydrocarbons. The quality of the alloy as a water repellent also was affected by the
solvent in which it was prepared [4].

Applications
 Summing suits
 Driver suites,
 Car seat,
 Cover seat,
 Special shoes,
 Military bags,
 Garden shade etc.

Figure: Some Picture of Water Repellent Fabric

4
Conclusion
Demand of water-repellent fabric is increasing day by day because of its comfortable
and breathability properties. In a wet environment, the basic requirement for
garments is to keep the wearer dry by being waterproof and/or water repellent.
Waterproof and water-repellent materials have a large range of applications, being
widely used for garment manufacturing in conventional garments for weather
protection, uniforms and work wear, and clothing for sport and leisure. In contact
with water, water repellent materials form drops that can be easily removed from the
fabric surface. A water-repellent fabric is resistant to wetting by water droplets and
to the spreading of water over its surface. The water repellency of a fabric prevents
the water absorption into the macrostructure of the fabric, with good influence on
garment weight and fabric breathability.

5
 References
[1] Author: H.M.FahmyaA.A.AlyaA.AmraSh.M.SayedaA.M.Rabieb
Title: SA/TDI/PEG adducts as water repellent finishes for cotton/polyester blended
fabric
Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2016.05.020
[2] Author: QingqingRenaTaoZhaoab
Title: Synthesis and application of modified vegetable oils in water-repellent
finishing of cotton fabrics
Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2009.11.031
[3] Author: Gulay Ozcan
Title: Performance Evaluation of Water Repellent Finishes on Woven Fabric
Properties
Source: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0040517507080619
[4] Author: Charles J. Conner,Laurence W. Mazzeno, JR,Wilson A. Reeves
Title: Influence of Solvent Media upon Polymerization of a Silicone Alloy Water
Repellent
Source: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F004051756203200710

View publication stats