Methods of finishing medical barrier fabrics

1. A method of finishing a barrier fabric, comprising:

applying a non-aqueous solution to a barrier fabric, wherein the non-aqueous solution comprises a fluorochemical repellent and a low surface tension organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent is a non-aqueous organic solvent having a surface tension at 25° C. of between 11 dynes/cm and 40 dynes/cm;

removing the organic solvent from the barrier fabric by heating the barrier fabric and/or air drying the barrier fabric and/or subjecting the barrier fabric to vacuum; and

applying an aqueous-based antistat to a surface of the barrier fabric, wherein the antistat is prevented from migrating from the surface by the fluorochemical repellent.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying a non-aqueous solution to a barrier fabric comprises spraying the non-aqueous solution onto the barrier fabric.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying a non-aqueous solution to a barrier fabric comprises saturating the barrier fabric with the non-aqueous solution.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying a non-aqueous solution to a barrier fabric comprises printing the non-aqueous solution onto the barrier fabric.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying a non-aqueous solution to a barrier fabric comprises coating the barrier fabric with the non-aqueous solution.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying an aqueous-based antistat to a surface of the substrate comprises applying the antistat as a foam.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying an aqueous-based antistat to a surface of the substrate comprises printing the antistat onto the substrate surface.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying an aqueous-based antistat to a surface of the substrate comprises spraying the antistat onto the substrate surface.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying an aqueous-based antistat to a surface of the substrate comprises coating the substrate surface with the antistat.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antistat comprises conductive particles.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier fabric comprises nonwoven fabric.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is selected from the group consisting of spunbond fabrics, meltblown fabrics, flash spun fabrics, spunlaced fabrics, spunbond-meltblown-spunbond fabrics, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier fabric comprises woven fabric.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the barrier fabric comprises laminated fabrics having film barrier layers.

15. A method of finishing a barrier fabric, wherein the barrier fabric includes opposite first and second surfaces, comprising:

applying a non-aqueous solution to the barrier fabric first surface, wherein the non-aqueous solution comprises a fluorochemical repellent and a low surface tension organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent is a non-aqueous organic solvent having a surface tension at 25° C. of between 11 dynes/cm and 40 dynes/cm;

removing the organic solvent from the barrier fabric by heating the barrier fabric and/or air drying the barrier fabric and/or subjecting the barrier fabric to vacuum; and

applying an aqueous-based antistat to the barrier fabric second surface, wherein the antistat is prevented from migrating from the second surface by the fluorochemical repellent.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein applying an aqueous-based antistat to one surface of the substrate comprises applying the antistat as a foam.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein applying an aqueous-based antistat to the barrier fabric second surface comprises printing the antistat onto the barrier fabric second surface.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein applying an aqueous-based antistat to the barrier fabric second surface comprises spraying the antistat onto the barrier fabric second surface.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein applying an aqueous-based antistat to the barrier fabric second surface comprises coating the barrier fabric second surface with the antistat.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the antistat comprises conductive particles.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the barrier fabric comprises nonwoven fabric.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is selected from the group consisting of spunbond fabrics, meltblown fabrics, flash spun fabrics, spunlaced fabrics, spunbond-meltblown-spunbond fabrics, and combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the barrier fabric comprises woven fabric.

24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the barrier fabric comprises laminated fabrics having film barrier layers.

25. A method of finishing a nonwoven barrier fabric, wherein the barrier fabric includes opposite first and second surfaces, comprising:

applying a non-aqueous solution to the barrier fabric first surface, wherein the non-aqueous solution comprises a fluorochemical repellent and a low surface tension organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent is a non-aqueous organic solvent having a surface tension at 25° C. of between 11 dynes/cm and 40 dynes/cm, and wherein the low surface organic tension solvent substantially covers all fibers at the barrier fabric first surface with the fluorochemical repellent;

removing the organic solvent from the barrier fabric by heating the barrier fabric and/or air drying the barrier fabric and/or subjecting the barrier fabric to vacuum; and

applying an aqueous-based antistat to the barrier fabric second surface, wherein the antistat is prevented from migrating from the second surface by the fluorochemical repellent.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein applying an aqueous-based antistat to one surface of the substrate comprises applying the antistat as a foam.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is selected from the group consisting of spunbond fabrics, meltblown fabrics, flash spun fabrics, spunlaced fabrics, spunbond-meltblown-spunbond fabrics, and combinations thereof.