Soil resistant
Soil release finishes repel soil or prevent the substance from bonding with the fabric. This finishing technique makes it easier for the consumer to clean the textile item. Most soils are oil based and are attached to hydrophobic fibres such as, nylon and polyester or applied resin finishes. Soiling results in a textile losing its whiteness or brightness, which is less appealing to the consumer.
The aim of soil resistant finishes are to make the textile less attractive to oil and more hydrophilic. They work by either attaching water and allowing the soil to be lifted off the textile by coating the fibres and preventing the soil from penetrating the coating. They may be applied mechanically or chemically. There are two types of Soil resistant finishes; Mechanical Soil release finishes and Chemical Soil release finishes.
Mechanical Soil release finishes include Scotchguard, which is sprayed onto the surface of the textile. This is then allowed to dry, before becoming effective. A disadvantage of this finish is that it is not durable. It needs to be reapplied regularly or after the laundering of the textile item. CIcompany is well known all over the world, they developed Scotchguard. The mentioned protector covers each fibre, which makes the fabric more resistant to different kinds of staining as well as waterproof and highly durable. Scotchgard is another fluorochemical finish applied to fabric to prevent staining and soiling. If an upholstery fabric does not already have this finish on the fabric, then Scotchgard can either be purchased in hardware stores or be applied by professional upholstery cleaners. Scotchgard can be applied to new, unsoiled upholstery with no problems. However, for older upholstery, the fabric should be thoroughly cleaned and the entire residue from the cleaner removed from the upholstery before the Scotchgard is applied. Otherwise, the Scotchgard will bond the residue in the upholstery fabric.
These finishes attract water to the surface of fibres during cleaning and help the consumer remove soil. The Anti-soil and anti-stain finishes are widely available for upholstery fabrics. The best results are obtained when these finishes are applied at the factory. They are not permanent and will be removed by several cleanings. These finishes do not take the place of routine care. The following are the most common anti-stain and anti- soil finishes used on fabrics
Zepel is a fluorochemical finish that is applied at the mill, then the fabric is processed to prevent soiling and staining. Therefore, the finish is only applied to the upholstery before the sale.
Teflon is the newest fluorochemical finish for upholstery, either put on the fabric, or applied to the furniture by professional upholstery cleaners. A fabric spray treatment to prevent soiling and staining should be reapplied after each cleaning due to the cleaning agent breaking down the stain resistant chemical. Water will not dissolve the stain resistant chemical but upholstery-cleaning agents will.
Chemical soil release finishes are bonded to the fibre chemically. As a result they are a more permanent method of preventing the soiling of a textile. For example this process is used on carpet.
Fire Retardant Finishes
Fire retardant finishes have the characteristics of a textile item that prevents highly flammable textiles from bursting into flames. Important textile items that should be fire retardant are children's clothing and theatre and restaurant furnishings. Certain fibres; such as wool are naturally flame resistant. Wool therefore doesn't need this finish to be added. These finishes are durable and capable of withstanding at least fifty washes. They are generally used on fabrics made from flammable fibres such as cotton, rayon, nylon and polyester.
Some disadvantages of fire retardant finishes are that they generally require alot of finish to be added to the fabric. This gives the fabric a considerable amount of weight. Another disadvantage is that the fire retardant finishes add significant cost to the item. This means the customer pays more, to have a fire safety garment.
In Canada there are laws which require that children's sleepwear and certain household furnishings meet certain standards for flammability resistance. The environmental impact of this finish is that it has the potential of polluting the environment.
A finishing plant may use 2 million gallons of water per day. They also use hazardous, toxic, and carcinogenic chemicals in production. The textile industry is attempting to minimize the environmental impact. Preliminary treatment of these facilities on site are happening before discharging waste to municipal facility. They are also re-using and re-claiming chemicals, removing contaminants (salts, metals, organic compounds) and limiting excess use of chemicals, water, energy, using FOAM finishing. They also now use more efficient methods of extracting water and replacing use of toxic and carcenogenic chemicals with safe chemicals.
Soil release finishes repel soil or prevent the substance from bonding with the fabric. This finishing technique makes it easier for the consumer to clean the textile item. Most soils are oil based and are attached to hydrophobic fibres such as, nylon and polyester or applied resin finishes. Soiling results in a textile losing its whiteness or brightness, which is less appealing to the consumer.
The aim of soil resistant finishes are to make the textile less attractive to oil and more hydrophilic. They work by either attaching water and allowing the soil to be lifted off the textile by coating the fibres and preventing the soil from penetrating the coating. They may be applied mechanically or chemically. There are two types of Soil resistant finishes; Mechanical Soil release finishes and Chemical Soil release finishes.
Mechanical Soil release finishes include Scotchguard, which is sprayed onto the surface of the textile. This is then allowed to dry, before becoming effective. A disadvantage of this finish is that it is not durable. It needs to be reapplied regularly or after the laundering of the textile item. CIcompany is well known all over the world, they developed Scotchguard. The mentioned protector covers each fibre, which makes the fabric more resistant to different kinds of staining as well as waterproof and highly durable. Scotchgard is another fluorochemical finish applied to fabric to prevent staining and soiling. If an upholstery fabric does not already have this finish on the fabric, then Scotchgard can either be purchased in hardware stores or be applied by professional upholstery cleaners. Scotchgard can be applied to new, unsoiled upholstery with no problems. However, for older upholstery, the fabric should be thoroughly cleaned and the entire residue from the cleaner removed from the upholstery before the Scotchgard is applied. Otherwise, the Scotchgard will bond the residue in the upholstery fabric.
These finishes attract water to the surface of fibres during cleaning and help the consumer remove soil. The Anti-soil and anti-stain finishes are widely available for upholstery fabrics. The best results are obtained when these finishes are applied at the factory. They are not permanent and will be removed by several cleanings. These finishes do not take the place of routine care. The following are the most common anti-stain and anti- soil finishes used on fabrics
Zepel is a fluorochemical finish that is applied at the mill, then the fabric is processed to prevent soiling and staining. Therefore, the finish is only applied to the upholstery before the sale.
Teflon is the newest fluorochemical finish for upholstery, either put on the fabric, or applied to the furniture by professional upholstery cleaners. A fabric spray treatment to prevent soiling and staining should be reapplied after each cleaning due to the cleaning agent breaking down the stain resistant chemical. Water will not dissolve the stain resistant chemical but upholstery-cleaning agents will.
Chemical soil release finishes are bonded to the fibre chemically. As a result they are a more permanent method of preventing the soiling of a textile. For example this process is used on carpet.
Fire Retardant Finishes
Fire retardant finishes have the characteristics of a textile item that prevents highly flammable textiles from bursting into flames. Important textile items that should be fire retardant are children's clothing and theatre and restaurant furnishings. Certain fibres; such as wool are naturally flame resistant. Wool therefore doesn't need this finish to be added. These finishes are durable and capable of withstanding at least fifty washes. They are generally used on fabrics made from flammable fibres such as cotton, rayon, nylon and polyester.
Some disadvantages of fire retardant finishes are that they generally require alot of finish to be added to the fabric. This gives the fabric a considerable amount of weight. Another disadvantage is that the fire retardant finishes add significant cost to the item. This means the customer pays more, to have a fire safety garment.
In Canada there are laws which require that children's sleepwear and certain household furnishings meet certain standards for flammability resistance. The environmental impact of this finish is that it has the potential of polluting the environment.
A finishing plant may use 2 million gallons of water per day. They also use hazardous, toxic, and carcinogenic chemicals in production. The textile industry is attempting to minimize the environmental impact. Preliminary treatment of these facilities on site are happening before discharging waste to municipal facility. They are also re-using and re-claiming chemicals, removing contaminants (salts, metals, organic compounds) and limiting excess use of chemicals, water, energy, using FOAM finishing. They also now use more efficient methods of extracting water and replacing use of toxic and carcenogenic chemicals with safe chemicals.