Effects of Barrier Finishes on Aerosol Spray Penetration and Comfort of Woven and Disposable Nonwoven Fabrics for Protective Clothing
SourceWoven and nonwoven fabrics with and without barrier finishes were tested for resistance to aerosol spray penetration and physical factors which contribute to comfort desirable for protective clothing for pesticide applicators. An aerosol spray test procedure was developed to test the following spray carriers: (1) water, (2) water/surfactant (48:1), and (3) unrefined cottonseed oil/surfactant (4:1). All the carriers contained 0.1% methylene blue dye as an indicator. Physical properties (for example, density, weight, thickness, water vapor, and air permeability) were examined as indicators of fabric comfort.
The presence of fluorocarbon-based finishes increased the resistance to aerosol spray penetration. Based on the physical test results and the aerosol penetration test, the spunlace nonwoven fabrics ranked highest for disposable protective garments.