Evaluating the Mechanical Properties of Waterproof Breathable Fabric Produced by a Coating Process

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to evaluate mechanical properties of a waterproof breathable fabric. A spacer knit with a cotton inner face and a polyester (PET) outer face was coated in order to obtain a waterproof breathable fabric. The applied coat was a mixture of an acrylic paste and a fluorocarbon resin. The treated fabric has undergone several tests to evaluate its mechanical properties. Tensile strength, flexural strength, abrasion resistance, and wrinkle recovery behavior were measured and discussed. After the coating treatment, the fabric was rigidified by 25% and 19% in wale and course directions, respectively. The coated PET face of the spacer fabric was not altered even after 125,000 abrasion cycles. A stiffer fabric was obtained after the coating treatment. However, fabric recovery behavior was ameliorated by 78% and 72% according to wale and course directions, respectively. The coated fabric can be used to produce raincoats and jackets.