Indifference to fluorocarbon chemistry, fluorine-free* repellent technologies provide a barrier effect only against water-based substances. This high efficacy prevents droplets from adhering and allows them to easily roll off the article surface, thus avoiding contact with the skin surface. When comparing the existing barrier technologies, that are widely accepted in apparel and technical textiles, polyfluorinated chemicals (PFC) provide superior functionalities as they protect against water but also fat or oil-based liquids, but also as their ability to reduce the surface energy of textile materials is much higher. Coming from human saliva, they contain many different body-based particles and can also carry bacteria and viruses.Ī repellent treatment of the textile helps to create a barrier effect on the surface and to allow fewer droplets sticking to the outer layer of the mask by minimizing contact between a potentially infectious agent and the fabric. It is crucial to understand which treatment is required and which standard has to be met.ĭroplets emitted by humans when sneezing or coughing are water-based and hydrophilic micro-sized drops with a maximum 100-micron diameter. According to the zone and end-use, different performance levels are required as well.The main requirements are different barrier functions against liquid penetration and blood repellence.Non-disposables can have the same performance but are more environmentally friendly.Disposable solutions are dominating the market.There is a wide field of different protective clothing types with different functionalities and therefore different requirements.Protective clothing refers to the clothing worn by personnel in special areas such as medical emergency rooms, where infectious diseases can be found.It is critical to keep in mind that, for all medical protectiveĬlothing, the supplier of the final product is generally responsible for all regulatory compliance requirements, including proof of efficacy, etc. For the highest protection levels, an additional polymer film is necessary to provide a reliable pressure-resistant barrier, which can be achieved either by coating or lamination. Creating a barrier against fluids is needed to avoid skin contact with infective contaminants, as blood has a lower surface tension than water (42mN/m compared to 72mN/m), which means it can more easily penetrate through textile materials.įigure: The majority of Archroma’s products are certified by some of the most important eco-standards.īecause of this lower surface tension of blood, the surface tension of the fabric becomes more important than the classic repellence needed in outdoor gear for example, where usually only protection against rain is needed. Personal protective textiles needed, especially nowadays, in healthcare or hospitals must fulfill many performance requirements, where one of the most important properties is the resistance against fluids. Archroma continuously challenge the status quo in deep belief to make textile industry sustainable
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