The influence of polysiloxane on the mechanical properties and water repellency of cotton fabrics

Cotton fabric is commonly used in the textile industry owing to good ventilation and absorption capacity. However, dirt resistance and water resistance of cotton fabrics are low. Therefore, coating cotton fabrics with water-repellent polysiloxane is a special requirement for outdoor and protective clothing products. The effects of polysiloxane content on the water resistance and mechanical properties of materials were studied. The morphology of coated cotton fabric was characterised by SEM (Scanning electron microscope), and EDX (Energy dispersive X-ray) was used to determine the presence of polysiloxane on the surface of cotton fabric. The effects of polysiloxane content on the water resistance and mechanical properties of materials were studied. Compared with raw cotton fabrics, the tensile strength of the cotton fabrics impregnated with 20%wt polysiloxane solution increased, but the elongation at break was reduced. The hydrostatic pressure (AATCC 127) and water spray test (AATCC 22) results showed that the water repellence of polysiloxane-coated cotton fabrics increased significantly compared to pure cotton fabrics. In addition, the polysiloxane content has no almost effect on the water repellency of the material. Therefore, the appropriate use of polysiloxane can contribute to minimising the cost of the product.