Breathability and Resistance to Water Penetration of Breathable-Coated Textiles after Cyclic Mechanical Treatments

Abstract

In this study, we have explored different aspects of wear-comfort, namely the breathability and resistance to water penetration properties of some breathable-coated fabrics that are used as outwear. The breathable-coated fabrics, i. e. the 100 % polyamide (PA) woven fabric coated with polyurethane (PU) and the three-ply laminate, consisting of an outer 100 % polyester (PES) woven fabric, an insider hydrophilic PU membrane and 100 % PES knitted lining, were tested. The variations of their properties by increasing number of stretching cycles and size of deformation were examined. The cyclic stretching test was done on the tensile testing machine Z005 (Germany). The maximum number of stretching cycles was 260, and elongation varied in the range of 15 % – 25 %. The kinetics of breathability and resistance to water penetration were examined. To determine the change of the above-mentioned properties of wear-comfort, the initial fabrics without mechanical treatment and the samples after cyclic mechanical treatments were measured. The test of water-vapour permeability was performed on a Sweating Guarded Hotplate M259b (England) and the resistance to water penetration was measured with a Shirley Hydrostatic Head Tester M018 (England). In the present study, we have attempted to show the dependences of resistance to water penetration of breathable-coated fabrics on cyclic stretching parameters. The polynomial regression equations and the coefficients of determination for relationships between number of stretching parameters and the resistance to water penetration were determined and analysed.