- Author
- Chen, L. | Cloud, R. M.
- Title
- Effects of Abrasion on Liquid Barrier Properties of Selected Nonwoven Fabrics.
- Coporate
- Florida State Univ., Tallahassee
- Report
- ASTM STP 1386
- Book or Conf
- Performance of Protective Clothing: Issues and Priorities for the 21st Century. Proceedings. Seventh (7th) Volume. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). ASTM STP 1386. June 28-30, 1999, ASTM, West Conshohocken, PA, Seattle, WA, Nelson, C. N.; Henry, N. W., Editors, 282-296 p., 2000
- Keywords
- protective clothing | protective equipment | nonwoven fabrics | abrasion treatments | barriers | fabrics | substrates | surfactants | wetting | penetration | retention | test methods
- Identifiers
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); liquid barrier; microporous films; wicking; characteristics of fabrics; two way analysis of variance (ANOVA); surface wetting; liquid retention
- Abstract
- This research determined the effects of abrasion treatments on the liquid barrier properties of selected nonwoven fabrics. The abrasion treatments included moderate and severe abrasion, flat and flat/flex abrasion, and dry and wet abrasion. The liquid barrier properties included surface wetting, liquid retention, and liquid penetration through nonwoven fabrics using a water/surfactant solution. The six test fabrics included nonwovens currently in use in protective clothing as well as developmental nonwovens incorporating microporous films or hydro-entangled cotton layers. Results of this study indicated that abrasion treatments increased the surface wetting rate of fabrics and their liquid penetration. There was no consistent effect on liquid retention, which differed significantly among the fabrics. Among the six fabrics, a cotton-containing fabric with a fluorochemical finish and a cotton and microporous film fabric showed excellent barrier potential, providing high liquid barrier performance before and after abrasion. In general, abrasion significantly decreased liquid barrier performance of the selected fabrics.