What Are The Classifications of Textile Waterproofing Agents?

Textile waterproofing agents are essential chemicals used to impart water resistance to fabrics, making them suitable for applications where protection from moisture is crucial, such as in outdoor apparel, tents, and umbrellas. These agents can be broadly classified based on their chemical composition and the mechanism by which they impart water resistance to textiles.

Throughout the development history of waterproof finishing agents, early waterproof finishing agents mainly include the following 3 categories:

(1) Alkane long-chain aluminum soap and paraffin/metal salt waterproof finishing agents.

Its mode of action is to pad the fabric with a dispersion of paraffin wax emulsion and metal salt. After dehydration, drying and heat setting, a mixture of metal salt oxide or hydroxide and paraffin is deposited on the surface of the fabric to achieve waterproof performance of the fabric. Although this type of waterproof finishing agent has a very good waterproof effect, because it uses paraffin as the main hydrophobic segment, it does not have reactive groups and only adheres to the fiber surface without binding fastness. Therefore, this type of waterproofing agent Fabrics treated with finishing agents have no resistance to washing.

(2) Silicone waterproof finishing agent.

The finishing agent is composed of hydrogen-containing silicone oil, methyl silicone oil or hydroxyl silicone oil, and can be applied to the waterproof finishing of most synthetic fiber fabrics. However, in terms of finishing effects, early silicone waterproof finishing agents had certain selectivity for fabric materials, and therefore could not meet the consumer demand for waterproof finishing of various fiber textile fabrics.

(3)Fluorocarbon waterproof finishing agent.

The waterproof and oil-proof performance of this type of finishing agent depends on the length of its carbon chain (i.e. fluoride content). The more fluoride embedded in the carbon chain, the longer the carbon chain and the better the stability between molecules. , the waterproof and oil-proof effect( Water Repellent Sylic FU5203/Water Repellent Sylic FU5204) is also better. By introducing new comonomers, the cost of such waterproofing additives is gradually reduced while improving the waterproofing effect and durability, making fluorine-containing compound waterproofing finishing agents widely used.

There are also polyurethane-based and acrylic-based agents.

Polyurethane-based agents:

Polyurethane (PU) water repellents offer a versatile option for making textiles waterproof. These agents can be applied as a coating or laminate to form a continuous film that blocks water penetration. PU coatings can be designed to be breathable, allowing moisture vapor to escape while preventing liquid water from entering, which is critical for the comfort of wearable textiles. They are often used in rainwear, footwear, and industrial fabrics.

Acrylic-based agents:

Acrylic water repellents offer a balance of water repellency and breathability. These agents form a film on fabrics that provides moderate water repellency while maintaining a soft feel and flexibility. Acrylics are often combined with other chemicals to enhance their performance and are suitable for a variety of applications, including casual wear and interior decoration.

The choice of textile water repellent depends on the specific requirements of your application, including the desired water repellency, breathability, durability, and environmental considerations. Each class of water repellents has different advantages and limitations, so it is critical to select the right water repellent to achieve the best balance of performance and sustainability for your textile product.