National Institute Of Fashion Technology

Fabric And Garment Finishing

Protective Fabric
Finishes

By:
Ankesh Dev
Bhavyaa Gupta
 What is Protective Wear/Finish

• Safety and protective textiles refer to garments and other

fabric-related items designed to protect the wearer from harsh
environmental effects that may result in injury or death

• Safety and protective textiles are designed to protect people

working in the industry from one or more of the following
hazards:
– EXTREME HEAT AND FIRE
– EXTREME COLD
– HARMFUL CHEMICALS AND GASES
– BACTERIAL / VIRAL ENVIRONMENT
 Classification

Fire Retardant Finish

Anti-Microbial Finish
Anti-Mildew Finish
Insect-Repellent Finish
Anti-Static Finish
Thermo-cat Finish
Snocool Finish
Bullet Proof
 Fire Retardant

Textiles consist of highly ignitable

materials and are the primary source
of ignition. They contribute to rapid
fire spread; however, reduction of
ignitability can be obtained by

1. Reducing the Oxygen content of the

fibre
2. Increasing the Moisture content of
the fibre.
 Continued…

• A fabric is susceptible to fire because of its LOI(Limit Oxygen

Index)

• To make the fabric flame resistant we have to reduce the

oxygen content.

• The Oxygen content is reduced by using Flame retardents.

• Various Flame retardents are:

– Ammonium salts and organic
– Nitrogenous compounds, like amine; b) organic halogenated compounds; c) salts
containing
– High quantities of crystallisation water.
 Procedures of Flame Resistance

• Coating Theory
• Gas theory
• Thermal theory
• Chemical Theory
Difference between Flame resistant and
Flame retardant….????
 Applications

• Fire suits
• In defense for tents, ropes, baggage and bags
• In industry for workers uniform
• Also used in curtains, hangings and decorative
materials.
 Anti-Microbial Finish

• Microbes are the tiniest creatures which are not

visible to the naked eye.
• These microbes include:
– Bacteria
– Fungi
– Viruses
– Algae
• These micro-organism not only harm the fabrics by
inducing pungent smells and by degrading the fabric
properties but more over cause diseases to the
humans.
 Necessity of Anti-Microbial
Finish
• To avoid cross infection by pathogenic
micro-organisms;
• To control the infestation by microbes;
• To arrest metabolism in microbes in order
to reduce the formation odour
• To safeguard the textile products from
staining, discolouration and quality
deterioration.
 Application Of Anti-Microbial

• The antimicrobial agents can be applied to the

textile substrates by exhaust, pad-dry-cure,
coating, spray and foam techniques.

• The substances can also be applied by

directly adding into the fibre spinning dope.

• It is claimed that the commercial agents can

be applied online during the dyeing and
finishing operations.
 Type Of Anti-Microbials
• Oxidizing agents such as aldehydes, halogens and proxy compounds attack
the cell membrane, get into the cytoplasm and affect the enzymes of the
microorganisms.

• Coagulants, primarily alcohols irreversibly denature the protein structures.

• Redical formers like halogens, isothiazones and peroxo compounds are

highly reactive due to the presence of free electrons compounds virtually
react with all organic structures in particular oxidizing thiols in amino acids.
Even at the lowest level of concentrations, these substances pose particular
risk to nucleic acids by triggering mutations and dimerization.

• One of the most durable type of antimicrobial products is based on a

diphenyl ether (bis-phenyl) derivative known as either 2, 4, 4'-trichloro-2‘
hydroxy dipenyl ether or 5-chloro-2-(2, 4-dichlorophenoxyl) phenol.
• Triclosan products have been used
for more than 25 years in hospitals
and personal care products such as
antimicrobial soap, toothpaste and
deodorants.
• Triclosan inhibits growth of
microorganisms by using a electro
chemical mode of action to penetrate
and disrupt their cell walls. When the
cell walls are penetrated, leakage of
metabolites occurs and other cell
functions are disabled, thereby Triclosan Structure
preventing the organism from
functioning or reproducing.
 Natural Anti-Microbials

• Chitosan is an effective natural antimicrobial agent derived

from Chitin.
• Chitosan is a major component in crustacean shells.
• Fibres made from Chitosan is also available in the market
place.
• Natural herbal products can be used for antimicrobial finishes
since, there is a tremendous source of medicinal plants with
antimicrobial composition to be the effective candidates in
bringing out herbal textiles.
 Chitin-A look..!!

Fibrous Chitin
 Application….
• Initially, the primary objective of the finish was to
protect textiles from being affected by microbes
particularly fungi. Uniforms, tents, defence textiles
and technical textiles, such as, geo-textiles have
therefore all been finished using antimicrobial
agents.
• Later, the home textiles, such as, curtains coverings,
and bath mats came with antimicrobial finish.
• The application of the finish is now extended to
textiles used for outdoor, healthcare sector,
Undergarments, sports and leisure.
 Anti-Static Finish
• During the process of spinning and weaving
there is a lot of rubbing and hence it generates
a static charge.

• This static charge thus developed in

hydrophobic fibers, may not only cause the
fabrics to tear but in rare cases cause shocks
to humans.
 Solution..

• By reducing the static charge

• By increasing the fabric

conductivity

• By making the fibers more

hydrophilic.
 Anti-Static Agents

• Silicon Emulsion
• PE Emulsion
• PE Glycol
• Poly-ammonium quaternary salts
• Acrylic Polymers
 Thermocat finish
• A finishing agent for producing heat retaining
effect.
• This type of finishing when applied to the
fabric keeps it warm.
• Produces heat retaining effect due to infrared
radiation owing to its porosity.
• Especially suitable for 100% cellulose and its
blends.
 Application

• This Finish is used where there is need to

retain heat and the surrounding environment
is very cold like in the polar regions or can be
worn in winters in cold countries.
 Snocool Finish

• This type of finish is used at places where there is a

need to feel cool and the surrounding temperature is
comparatively hot.
• The Snocool finish uses the concept of moisture
management.
• It enhances the process of sweat absorption.
• The sweat is evenly distributed in the fabric.
• Thus it requires less time for the sweat to evaporate
and it gives a cooling effect to the wearer as the
sweat evaporates.
Mechanism of Snocool fabrics
 Application

• It’s major application is in Sports wear where

immediate evaporation of sweat is required so
as to reduce discomfort and to impart comfort
 Insect Repellent Finish

The term “insect repellent”

doesn’t accurately reflect how
these materials work. They don’t
actually repel insects, but rather
block the receptors that
mosquitoes, gnats, punkies, no-
see-ums and other insects use to
detect appropriate hosts for
them to bite.
 Types of Insect-Repellants

• DEET is an acronym for the long technical name: N, N-diethyl-meta-

toluamide .
• Picaridin
• Citronella
• An ANTIMO MGL a menthoglycol is a natural insect repellent active
ingredient, derived from lemon eucalyptus, which is a natural and
renewable source.
• Testing of Antimos MGL with a moderately aggressive cage population of
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes resulted in no bites up to at least 4 hours.
 UV Protective fabrics

• The UV Spectrum comprises of 2 rays:

– UVA
– UVB
• The UVA is of larger wavelength and
penetrates the skin deeply and causes ageing.
• The UVB is of shorter wavelength and
penetrates the superficial layers of the skin
and causes carcinoma.
 U.V. Protectives

• UV Protection depends upon

– The type of fibre
– Type of weave

• UV protection in fabrics can be

incorporated into the yarn, using
Unifi’s Mynx UV, or it can be
applied to the surface of the
fabric as a finish

• This provided the fabric with

 Application
• Children Wear
• Outdoor apparel
• Active-wear (i.e. tennis, golf, and running
apparel)
• Swimwear.