Hydrophobization

What is “hydrophobization”?

Water repellency is a water-repellent finish that is applied to the outermost material layer of the garment to make fabrics water-repellent. Water repellency means that water droplets “roll off” the surface of the textile and do not penetrate the fibers.
Water repellency means that textiles become water-repellent. However, depending on the type of material, this does not necessarily mean that it is waterproof.

For which textiles is hydrophobization useful?

Basically, water repellency is an option for all textiles that need to withstand exposure to water. This is, of course, outdoor or winter sports clothing in particular.

There are different methods for applying water repellency:

Spray-tumbler process

The textiles roll in a closed tumbler and are moistened with the active ingredient (together with steam). The active ingredient penetrates deep into the fiber and is absorbed by the fiber.

Advantages

  • No enema/shrinking
  • no turned seams
  • No loss of gloss – goods “like new”
  • No color changes
  • Even application
  • almost 100% of the active ingredient is absorbed by the product
  • No emissions or wastewater pollution
  • Cost minimization through low raw material consumption

Disadvantages

  • Pay attention to damage to the applications (buttons, zippers, etc.). Processing “in the net” may be recommended.

Washing process

The water repellency would be washed in during a washing process. Following this process, the water repellency is activated by an optimized drying process.

Advantages

  • Deep penetration into the fiber

Disadvantages

  • Possibly negative washing effects on the new product (looks washed/used)
  • Inner lining and filling are also hydrophobized (= deterioration of wearing properties)
  • Environment: A high proportion of the finishing chemicals end up in the drain without having any effect

Dipping / rinsing

The textile is immersed in a liquid for a longer period of time, whereby the water repellent is absorbed deeply and evenly by the fibers.

Advantages

  • Deep penetration into the fiber

Disadvantages

  • Inner lining and filling are also processed (= deterioration of wearing properties)
  • Environment: A high proportion of the finishing chemicals end up in the drain without having any effect

Conventional spray process

The textile is immersed in a liquid for a longer period of time, whereby the water repellent is absorbed deeply and evenly by the fibers.

Advantages

  • Only the outside is hydrophobized, no deterioration in wear properties
  • No static charge as a result

Disadvantages

  • Uneven application by hand with uneven results
  • High health risk for the processor due to the aerosols

Ecological impregnation?

The conventional methods were generally based on fluorocarbon resins with 8-chain hydrocarbon chains, so-called C8 PFC chemicals (PFC = perfluorinated or polyfluorinated hydrocarbons). Although they were very effective, i.e. made the fibers reliably water-repellent, they accumulate in nature due to their long half-life during degradation. The same applies to the human body, which can only break them down very slowly and incorporates them into the fat metabolism.

The degradation of short-chain fluorocarbon resins, the C6-PFCs, is considerably faster with otherwise the same positive water-repellent properties. This is why they are currently under observation and investigation, but not on the banned list. We apply C6 PFCs with virtually no emissions to the environment and ensure that possible reactive components are minimized by condensation in the oven.

Depending on the existing fibers, we are of course also happy to apply fluorine-free impregnations from various manufacturers, which we have tested for their properties.Fluorine-free hydrophobic finishes should – unlike PFC products – be carefully tailored to the existing fiber and advertising in order to achieve satisfactory water repellency. For cotton, polyester and polyamide, we recommend and use different fluorine-free chemicals for hydrophobization (water repellency), which in our experience are optimal.

Decide for yourself whether fluorine-free or C6-PFC! We will be happy to provide you with a free sample finish on your goods