The liquid moisture management properties of low-temperature cured water-repellent cotton fabrics

Abstract

Water- and oil-repellency of cellulose fabrics can be achieved by fluorocarbon (FC) resin crosslinking at high temperatures in the condensation phase. However, FC resin, even after curing, is not resistant to care conditions, it is economically unfavorable, and leads to cotton fabric damage and very often to hue change. Previous studies revealed that it is possible to achieve durable water-repellency by low-temperature curing that lasts for 5 washing cycles if ironed in between cycles, applying FC resin Sevophob FTU with an addition of polymer waxes Sevophob W and aliphatic poly isocyanate Sevophob-Aktivator BLT. Since the moisture management is one of the key performance criteria regarding the comfort of functional fabric, in this paper the liquid moisture management properties were determined according AATCC TM 195- 2017. The Moisture management tester (MMT) by SDL Atlas was used for the determination of liquid moisture management properties of white cotton fabrics before and after finishing as well as after 1, 3 and 5 washing cycles with and without ironing in between. The results indicate that the white cotton fabric is characterized as moisture management fabric, while all FC resin treated fabrics are characterized as Water penetration fabrics capable of excellent one-way transport.