Fabric having a waterproof barrier
Provided herein are ecologically friendly waterproof fabrics that include a base fabric having a body-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, and a hydrophobic, waterproof barrier disposed on the outward-facing surface of the base fabric. The base fabric may be a wicking fabric or may be treated with a compound that enhances wicking, and the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier may include a plastic polymer, polyurethane, polyethylene, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene. The waterproof fabrics also may include an abrasion-resistant coating and/or a PFC-free durable water repellant (DWR) agent disposed on an outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier, and one or both of the abrasion-resistant coating and/or PFC-free DWR agent may be discontinuous. Also provided are methods of making a waterproof fabric.
1. An article of clothing, body gear, sporting gear, gloves, headwear, or footwear, comprising:
a base material having an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface;
an exposed, breathable, hydrophobic, waterproof barrier disposed on the outward-facing surface of the base material, the waterproof barrier having an exposed, outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface directed toward the base material;
a seam running through the waterproof barrier; and
a waterproof tape bonded to the outward-facing surface of the waterproof barrier and oriented to seal the seam against water ingress.
2. The waterproof material of claim 1 , further comprising a perfluorocarbon-free (PFC-free) durable water repellant (DWR) agent disposed on the outward-facing surface of the waterproof barrier.
3. The waterproof material of claim 2 , wherein the PFC-free DWR agent comprises paraffin or a silicon-based active ingredient.
4. The waterproof material of claim 2 , wherein the PFC-free DWR agent comprises 15-25% by weight active water repellant ingredient.
5. The waterproof material of claim 1 , further comprising an abrasion-resistant coating disposed on the outward-facing surface of the waterproof barrier.
6. The waterproof material of claim 5 , wherein the waterproof tape is applied over the abrasion-resistant coating, and wherein the waterproof tape bonds to both the abrasion-resistant coating and the waterproof barrier.
7. The waterproof material of claim 5 , wherein the abrasion-resistant coating covers about 15-50% of a surface area of the waterproof material.
8. The waterproof material of claim 1 , wherein the waterproof barrier comprises titanium dioxide.
9. The waterproof material of claim 1 , wherein the waterproof barrier comprises polyurethane.
10. The waterproof material of claim 9 , wherein the waterproof barrier comprises 1-20% by weight polyurethane.
11. The waterproof material of claim 1 , wherein the waterproof barrier is perfluorocarbon-free (PFC free).
12. The waterproof material of claim 1 , wherein the waterproof barrier is pigmented.
13. The waterproof material of claim 12 , wherein the pigment comprises one or more natural pigments.
14. The waterproof material of claim 1 , wherein the waterproof barrier comprises one or more of charcoal, indigo, and bamboo pigments to impart color.
15. The waterproof material of claim 1 , wherein the waterproof material is undyed.
16. The waterproof material of claim 1 , wherein the base material is perfluorocarbon-free (PFC-free).
17. A method of making a waterproof article of clothing, body gear, sporting gear, gloves, headwear, or footwear, the method comprising:
providing a base material having an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface;
disposing an exposed, breathable, hydrophobic, waterproof barrier on the outward-facing surface of the base material, thereby forming a waterproof material, wherein the waterproof barrier has an exposed outward-facing surface and an inward-facing surface directed toward the base material; and
forming the article with the waterproof material, wherein forming the article comprises creating a seam between two pieces of the waterproof barrier; and bonding a waterproof tape to the outward-facing surface of the waterproof barrier, wherein bonding the waterproof tape comprises aligning the waterproof tape to seal the seam against water ingress.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
disposing a perfluorocarbon-free (PFC-free) durable water repellant (DWR) agent on the outward-facing surface of the waterproof barrier.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the PFC-free DWR agent comprises 15-25% by weight isobutyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the PFC-free DWR agent comprises 50-70% by weight water.