Non-PFAS Omniphobic Liquid Repellent Coatings

Protective textiles are used in a wide range of military and civilian applications, including protective gear worn by U.S. military personnel in a toxic environment (e.g., during a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear strike). These garments must shield the wearer against a variety of liquids, including toxic industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fuels, and chemical warfare agents. Thus, the use of an omniphobic liquid repellent coating on these textiles is critical. Traditional liquid repellent coatings use perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), which are coming under increased regulation due to negative environmental and health effects. TDA Research proposes to develop a new non-PFAS omniphobic liquid repellent coating that can be applied to a wide range of natural and synthetic textiles. In the Phase I effort, we will formulate and apply the coating to two military grade textiles: natural all-cotton 330D Canvas Duck, and a flame retardant Spandex/Nylon/Rayon blend. The coating will be characterized for hydrophobicity and oleophobicity using spray and oil ratings. The coated textiles will be tested for a variety of properties, including air permeability, stretch, stiffness, and tear strength; the goal will be a less than 10% change in these properties from the virgin textile. We will also subject the coated textiles to several laundry cycles to ensure that the coatings exhibit good durability. An engineering analysis will be performed to identify the scale-up and technoeconomic challenges that we will need to address in Phase II.