This study aims to compare the effects of a short-chain fluoropolymer, considered as a more sustainable water-repellent coating, with a long-chain fluoropolymer on knitted fabrics, and to evaluate potential correlations between coating type and fabric structure in terms of water repellency and air permeability.
Three polyester weft-knitted fabric structures (knit, miss and tuck) were treated with C6 (S1) and C8 (S2) fluoropolymer solutions. The morphological and physical properties of the fabrics were examined through different methods, including scanning electron microscopy, water repellency and air permeability to evaluate hydrophobicity and breathability of prepared fabrics. Statistical analysis (one-way and two-way analysis of variance) was performed to assess the effects of fluoropolymer type and fabric structure.
In all structures, coating decreased air permeability and increased hydrophobicity of all fabrics. While fabrics coated with S2 achieved higher hydrophobicity, fabrics coated with S1 showed comparable performance in certain fabric structures. Knit-stitch fabric showed a higher difference in hydrophobicity and permeability, whereas miss-stitch fabric showed minimal differences compared with uncoated ones.
This study demonstrates that C6 fluoropolymers can be a suitable sustainable alternative to C8 in certain selected fabric structures, providing a pathway for sustainable water-repellent textile finishing.
