The coating and finishing of synthetic fibres during garment production grew out of natural fibre manufacture, with new synthetic materials increasing the range of possibilities. Finishing applications with synthetics are designed to improve fibre properties and performance, like water-proofing treatments for viscose rayon and cotton.
Lubricants
Lubricants have an important role in reducing fibre friction in natural and synthetic yarn and thread manufacture. They are also effective anti-static agents applied as after-treatments to fabrics made with cellulose triacetate, nylon, polyester, acrylic and Dynel (modacrylic, composed of vinyl chloride-acrylonitrile copolymers) in fur and piled fabrics. These fibres readily acquire electric charge that they hold onto as static. Its control serves two important consumer purposes. One is reducing attraction of lint, small airborne particulates and dirt. This makes it easier to care for the fabric. Another is to protect the wearer from little electric shocks, sparks and crackles released from static build-up and lessen the discomfort of ‘slippery’ and ‘sticky’ static fabrics that make garments move and misalign around the body. There is also an aesthetic reason. Lubricants help to maintain the ‘fullness’ of synthetic furs and piled fabrics.
Binding media
Synthetic polymers are used as binding media for pigments in textile printing and coloured surface finishes.
Textile coating techniques
There are many ways of applying coatings including:
- direct coating, in which the coating is spread on the material with a fixed knife.
- spray coating, in which the coating is sprayed directly on the textile by a variety of different ways.
- extrusion coating, in which the coating is past through a sheet die and transferred directly onto the textile.
- foamed coating, normally used for knitted and woven textiles, in which a foam coating lies on the surface of the textile and is then pressed onto the textile by a roller.
Artificial leather
Artificial leather, known under many names, including leatherette, imitation leather, faux leather, vegan leather, PU leather, and pleather is produced using a fabric base layer, which is coated using rollers and given the texture and appearance of real leather. The chemical coating can be made from either polyurethane or PVC. It is commonly used in jackets, shoes, gloves, hats, pants, belts, watch bands, and handbags.