TEXTILES.ORG
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) are working with textile companies on a PFAS coating replacement. The eco-friendly plasma coating process uses synthetic silica compounds called siloxanes to create a water-repellent silicone-like layer on fibers.
The coating penetrates all twists and turns of intertwined fibers and even stretched ones; it is 30 nanometers thin. “We have even succeeded in permanently impregnating more demanding elastic fibers with the new process, which was previously not possible,” says researcher Dirk Hegemann, Ph.D.
Current testing of textiles with the new finish shows them to absorb less water and dry more quickly than PFAS-coated fabrics. The new finish has potential uses in garments or upholstery fabrics because it’s durable. Oil and stain repellency, though, still eludes the textile industry in relation to PFAS-free finishes.
The scientists are working on scaling up their process to make it viable for industry use.