13th International Conference Structure and Structural Mechanics of Textiles

November 2006 TU Liberec, Czech Republic

BREATHABLE AND WATERPROOF POLYURETHANE COATED TEXTILES

Miroslav Pril1, Jakub Wiener2, Michaela Dukov3
Abstract: The work deals with the application of polyurethane polymer dispersions for breathable and waterproof coating of textiles. The concentrations of polymer, fixierer and coating conditions on water proofness and breathability of textiles were studied.

1.

Introduction
Breathable and waterproof fabrics are mainly manufactured in two ways. These are either coated fabrics or membrane fabrics. All breathable microporous membranes comprise an extremely thin man-made film whose physical structure contains microscopic pores that are large enough for water vapour (perspiration) to pass through but small enough not to let water droplets through. Thus the membrane is breathable, waterproof and windproof. There are a number of different Gore-Tex constructions currently used within the industry. All coatings are created by spreading a thin layer of resin directly onto to the inside face of the chosen fabric (Fig.1). Two distinct types of breathable coating exist: microporous and hydrophilic. A microporous coating works on the same principle as a microporous membrane, the pores in the coating being large enough to let water vapour pass through but small enough to keep water droplets out. Hydrophilic coatings rely on the chemical and molecular properties of water molecules. The heat that the body generates inside the garment drives water vapour (perspiration) down the polymer chains found in the coating to the external face, the water vapour moving from molecule to molecule rather than freely through a physical hole or pore. As the body produces more moisture and the fabric gets wetter, the chains naturally increase in size, allowing even more moisture movement. The mechanism of water vapour permeability is schematically shown in Figure 2. Moisture vapour transmission relies on the existence of a temperature/ pressure gradient existing between the inside and outside of the textile. Breathable textiles work best when the air inside is humid and warm and the air outside is cold and dry. When the weather contrives

Doc. Ing. Miroslav Pril, CSc.; Technical University of Liberec, Department of Textile Chemistry, Hlkova 6, 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic 2 Doc. Ing. Jakub Wiener,Ph.D.; Technical University of Liberec, Department of Textile Chemistry, Hlkova 6, 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic 3 Michaela Dukov, Technical University of Liberec, Department of Textile Chemistry, Hlkova 6, 461 17 Liberec, Czech Republic

13th International Conference Structure and Structural Mechanics of Textiles

November 2006 TU Liberec, Czech Republic

to create warm and humid conditions on the outside of the e.g.jacket, transmission rates will be that much lower and could allow condensation to build up on the inside face of the fabric.

Figure 1: Coated textile

Water vapour Outer surface of coating

Element of molecular structure Water molecules

Inner surface of coating

Figure 2: Mechanism of water vapour permeability

13th International Conference Structure and Structural Mechanics of Textiles

November 2006 TU Liberec, Czech Republic

2. Experimental
2.1 Materials Polyurethane dispersions Two dispersions were used : Lurapret TX BC 1, manufactured by BASF, self-crosslinking and breathable aliphatic polyurethane dispersion. Lurapret TX BC 2, manufactured by BASF, self-crosslinking and breathable polyurethane binder. Fixierer Helizarin Fixierer TX 4622, manufactured by BASF, methoxymethylmelamin. Thickener Lurapret DTU, manufactured by BASF, synthetic thickener. Fabric 100% polyester pretreated for printing. Instruments Laboratory flat screen printing machine, Zimmer, mini MDF Permetester ( water proofness ) SDL M018 ( breathability ) 2.2 Methods Pastes were prepared as follows : for the first and second layers polyurethane dispersion - Lurapret TX BC 1 x g fixierer - Helizarin Fixierer TX 4622 ...................... y g thickener - Lurapret DTU ......... 5 g ____________________________________ 1 000 g

for the third layer polyurethane dispersion - Lurapret TX BC 2 z g fixierer - Helizarin Fixierer TX 4622 ...................... w g thickener - Lurapret DTU ......... 30 g polysiloxan Siligen SIO ............ 17 g ____________________________________ 1 000 g

The pastes were printed in laboratory conditions using Zimmer flat screen printing machine with 45 mesh screen. The printing conditions for all experiments were the same ( pressure and the speed of the squeegee ). Only the diameter of the squeegee was changed and the influence of the diameter of the squeegee on breathability was also studied. Printed fabrics were dried at 1300C and fixed at 1600C for 2 minutes by means of hot air using Benz laboratory device. The prints were then examined on water proofness and breathability .

13th International Conference Structure and Structural Mechanics of Textiles

November 2006 TU Liberec, Czech Republic

3. Results and Discussion

The concentration of polyurethane dispersions and fixierer was changed and the results are in Fig. 3 5. In the Fig. 6 there is a cross-section of the printed fabric from electron microscope. Evaluating the influence of the diameter of the squeegee on the water proofness and breathability it was found that the water proofness is high and goes up when the diameter of the squeegee is higher. The breathability, on the other hand, decreased. The reason is a different amount of the print pastes on the textiles. From the Fig. 4 5 we can see that the higher concentration of the polyuretane dispersions causes increasing of water proofness and big decreasing of breathability.

quantity of deposition g/m2

80 79 78 77 76 75 74 0 5

y = 0,4403x + 72,41 R2 = 0,9991

Squeegee diameter mm

10

15

20

Figure 3: Dependance of quantity deposition of polyurethane paste on the squeegee diameter.

13th International Conference Structure and Structural Mechanics of Textiles

November 2006 TU Liberec, Czech Republic

water proofness mm

breathability %

15300 15250 15200 15150 15100 15050 15000

amount of polyuretane dispersion Lurapret TX BC1

2 1,5 1 water proofness brethability 91,22 92,78 94,36 0,5 0

g/100g

Figure 4: Dependance of water proofness and breathability of the coated polyester textile on the amount of polyurethane dispersion Lurapret TX BC1

15600 15550 15500 15450 15400 15350 15300

water proofness mm

breathability %

water proofness breathability

4,5 4 3,5 3 2,5 2 1,5 1 0,5 0

75

76

77

78
g/m2

79

quantity of deposition

Figure 5: Dependance of water proofness and breathability of the coated polyester textile on the quantityt of deposition of polyurethane paste

13th International Conference Structure and Structural Mechanics of Textiles

November 2006 TU Liberec, Czech Republic

Figure 6 : Cross-section of the printed fabric from electron microscope.

4.

Conclusion

Natural fabrics such as wool and cotton do not move moisture away from the skin towards the outer layer. The use of coated textiles with polyurethanes allowes water vapour to be transported through hydrophilic parts of the polymer chains. The water proofness and breathability depends on the concentration of the polyuretans. To receive both parameters acceptable, especially for outwear garments, it is necessary to find suitable concentration of coated polyuretanes.

5. References
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Fung, W.: Coated and laminated textiles, Woodhead Publishing Ltd, Cambridge, 2002 Technical literature BASF Pril,M.,: Advanced and specialized textile processes, textbook E-team, 2005 http: //www.fieldandtrek.com Dukov, M.: Diploma project, 2006, TU Liberec