Coated fabrics are those that have undergone a

coating A coating is a covering that is applied to the surface of an object, usually referred to as the Substrate (materials science), substrate. The purpose of applying the coating may be decorative, functional, or both. Coatings may be applied as liquid ...

procedure to become more functional and hold the added properties, such as

cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus ''Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor perce ...

fabrics becoming impermeable or

waterproof Waterproofing is the process of making an object or structure waterproof or water-resistant so that it remains relatively unaffected by water or resisting the ingress of water under specified conditions. Such items may be used in wet environme ...

. Coated textiles are used in a variety of applications, including blackout curtains and the development of waterproof fabrics for raincoats.

Coating

The coating is an application of

chemical substances A chemical substance is a form of matter having constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Some references add that chemical substance cannot be separated into its constituent Chemical element, elements by physical separation m ...

on the surface of fabric that is to be made

functional Functional may refer to: * Movements in architecture: ** Functionalism (architecture) ** Form follows function * Functional group, combination of atoms within molecules * Medical conditions without currently visible organic basis: ** Functional sy ...

or decorative. Coatings use less material than other types of

applications Application may refer to: Mathematics and computing * Application software, computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks ** Application layer, an abstraction layer that specifies protocols and interface methods used in a c ...

, such as exhaust or

padding Padding is thin cushioned material sometimes added to clothes. Padding may also be referred to as batting when used as a layer in lining quilts or as a packaging or stuffing material. When padding is used in clothes, it is often done in an attempt ...

stenter A stenter (sometimes called a tenter) is a specialist oven used in the textile industry for drying and heat treating fabric after wet processing. It consists of heated chambers, adjustable to the width of the fabric being treated. Fabric is fed ...

History

The earliest known coated fabric is

Oilcloth Oilcloth, also known as enameled cloth or American cloth, is close-woven cotton duck or linen cloth with a coating of boiled linseed oil to make it waterproof. Manufacture Boiled linseed oil was prepared by a long boiling of linseed oil with me ...

. Oilcloth is produced by the application of

boiled linseed oil Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil or flax oil (in its edible form), is a colourless to yellowish oil obtained from the dried, ripened seeds of the flax plant (''Linum usitatissimum''). The oil is obtained by pressing, sometimes followed by ...

. The use of boiled oils can be traced back to 200 AD.

Types

Coated fabrics can be made in a variety of ways, depending on the coating ingredients used, such as chemical and particles. Rubber, plastic, and vinyl coatings are just a few examples. Nanofabrics are coated with a wide range of

nanoparticles A nanoparticle or ultrafine particle is usually defined as a particle of matter that is between 1 and 100 nanometres (nm) in diameter. The term is sometimes used for larger particles, up to 500 nm, or fibers and tubes that are less than 1 ...

to make the fabrics capable of enhanced properties such as

ultrahydrophobicity Ultrahydrophobic (or superhydrophobic) surfaces are highly hydrophobic, i.e., extremely difficult to wet. The contact angles of a water droplet on an ultrahydrophobic material exceed 150°. This is also referred to as the lotus effect, after the ...

medical textiles Medical textiles are various fiber-based materials intended for medical purposes. Medical textile is a sector of technical textiles that focuses on fiber-based products used in health care applications such as prevention, care, and hygiene. The s ...

(

antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microbes evolve mechanisms that protect them from the effects of antimicrobials. All classes of microbes can evolve resistance. Fungi evolve antifungal resistance. Viruses evolve antiviral resistance. ...

Ultraviolet Ultraviolet (UV) is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelength from 10 nanometer, nm (with a corresponding frequency around 30 Hertz, PHz) to 400 nm (750 Hertz, THz), shorter than that of visible light, but longer than ...

protection, and elasticity.

Use

The applications and uses of coated fabrics are numerous. * In manufacturing of pristine clothes. *Self cleaning fabrics with

lotus effect The lotus effect refers to self-cleaning properties that are a result of ultrahydrophobicity as exhibited by the leaves of ''Nelumbo'', the lotus flower. Dirt particles are picked up by water droplets due to the micro- and nanoscopic architect ...

. * PPE kits, aprons, coverall and gowns for healthcare workers usable in viral diseases such as

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, medical textiles with protecting properties, body fluid resistance and antimicrobial surface. *Coated fabrics also contribute to fire-retardant fabrics. *In distinctive areas, coated fabrics are used for transportation, industrial application, geotextile, and military use.

References

{{Reflist Textiles Textile techniques Industrial processes Chemical processes

Coating

History

Types

Use

See also

References