Although many organizations have successfully developed coatings that make the fabric waterproof and breathable, most of these solutions incorporate toxic chemicals. But now, scientists have found better alternative solutions from environmentally friendly coatings made of wax and starch.
To make this new coating, researchers from Aalto University in Finland first extracted carnauba wax from palm leaves. It is widely used in products such as car protection wax, medicines and food, and can be said to be a relatively harmless raw material.
The research team melted and decomposed the wax in water to form a negatively charged wax particle solution. Since the cellulose constituting the natural fabric fiber is also negatively charged, a positively charged buffer must be added in the middle to make the wax particles adhere to the fiber.
Although previous research has shown that a protein called polylysine can do the job, but because this protein is very expensive, scientists have found a material that makes starch a lot cheaper.
The resulting wax / starch solution is applied to organic fabrics, such as viscose, tencel, cotton, and cotton, by methods including dip coating, spray coating, and brush coating. In all cases, this treatment makes the material hydrophobic, while maintaining its breathability and natural feel. In contrast, when the same type of fabric is treated with traditional waterproof coatings, its breathability decreases.
Unfortunately, in its current form, the Aalto coating does not withstand detergent washing well. Therefore, it is recommended to limit its use to items that are not washed frequently, such as jackets, and consumers can spray new paint on them after each wash.
Related papers were published in Carbohydrate Polymers.
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