WATER PROOFING AND WATER REPELLANT FINISHING

Presentation by: Neelkanth Rishav Raj DFT-VI Batch-09-13 NIFT, CHENNAI

Water Proofing
Water proofing is the process in which the interstices of the fabric as well as the surface of the fabric is covered with a film or skin in such a way that the treated material is not only water repellant but also impermeable for air and moisture. Water proof fabrics are of three types: 1. Coated 2. Laminated 3. High density woven fabric.

Water Repellant Finishes

Water repellant finish is the process in which fabric is made repellant to water by coating it with hydrophobic material, or by chemical reactions. But the fabric remains porous to air.

Water Proofing Methods

1. Using Ammonium Acetate: In this method the cloth is run through the bath of ammonium acetate solution repeatedly without squeezing and roll it into a batch, after which the cloth was left to drain. 2. Using Ammonium Soaps: This process is similar to ammonium acetate process but has two bath technique and the use of soap and alum simultaneously. (Principle Chemical Reaction: Sodium soap is converted to Aluminum soap to give the proofing finish.)

3. Using Wax: - Good quality of paraffin wax is used along with softening agent. It is applied in many ways like friction, molten spray, and aqueous emulsion. - 4-6% wax is mixed in benzene and applied over roller revolving, the fabric passes through the roller and gets dry and becomes showerproof(temporary waterproofing).

Wax Emulsion composition:

4. Using Synthetic compounds: Synthetic compounds of higher molecular weight have been used as water repellant materials. condensation products or polymerized compounds are also used for water proofing. 5. Use of Silicones: These products are stable to washing in water at 60C with solvents. They can be used to treat uniforms, raincoats and sportswear. These products are very popular since they allow excellent waterproofing properties, optimum solidity (that can also be enhanced if combined with resins) and a very pleasant and soft hand(they are also used as softening agents.)They are suitable to be applied on all types of fibers. The high water-repellent effect and the soft hand are due to the orientation toward the outer surface of methyl groups.

6. High-Density Fabrics In open-weave fabrics, water vapors transmit mainly through inter yarn spaces and transfer through individual fibers, and fiber bundles are relatively unimportant. Thus, fabrics of similar open construction, weight, and thickness are expected to show similar transmission rates, irrespective of the type of yarn or fibers used.

Finishing Tests
Spray Test: Measures resistance of fabric to surface wetting under mild water impact. Highest rating is100; 70 is the lowest acceptable rating required for many repellent fabrics. Rain Test: Penetration of water through the fabric is tested by placing a blotter of known weight behind the fabric sample, spraying with water for a specified time, and re-weighing the blotter. The intensity of the water impact can be adjusted by using a higher column of water. The highest test level generally used for apparel is 3 feet for 5 minutes. Passing the test depends heavily on fabric construction(tightness).

Bundesmann Rain/Shower Test: Subjects fabric to an artificial rain shower, rates the specimens visually for surface wetting, measures the water absorbed by the specimen, and measures the amount of water that penetrates through the specimen. This is a severe test of water repellency. Hydrostatic Pressure Test: Fabrics are subjected to increasing water (hydrostatic) pressure until 3 points of leakage appear.

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