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TECHNOLOGY OF HYDROPHOBIC TREATMENT OF COTTON
TARPAULIN FABRIC
1,
а
)
А
bidjon
Т
illyaev,
2
Zebo
К
urbonova,
3
Sarviniso Boltatosheva,
4,b)
Jasur Shukurov,
1
Department of Polymer Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Samarkand
State University, 140104, 15 University Boulevard, Samarkand City, Uzbekistan
2
Tashkent Institute of Textile and Light Industry, Master's student,
Uzbekistan
3
Samarkand State University, 140104, 15 University Boulevard, Samarkand
City, Uzbekistan, Student
4
Department of Polymer Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Samarkand
State University, 140104, 15 University Boulevard, Samarkand City, Uzbekistan
Corresponding author:
Abstract.
Canvas is a dense fabric produced using plain weave from thick
linen yarn or its blend with cotton yarn. It is distinguished by its unique properties,
combining good vapor permeability with the rapid and significant swelling of flax
fibers when exposed to water, thereby acquiring high waterproofing and increased
strength. However, the limited availability of linen yarn due to its low technological
efficiency and high manual labor requirements necessitates the production of
canvas exclusively from cotton fibers
—
sailcloth
—
followed by treatment with
accessible water-repellent, fire-resistant, and other protective compositions. To this
day, canvas remains one of the most effective materials for protecting moisture-
sensitive agricultural products, raw cotton, and other materials that cannot tolerate
synthetic additives. This issue is addressed by manufacturing sailcloth
—
dense
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fabric made entirely from raw cotton
—
and further waterproofing it. Imparting
waterproof and rot-resistant properties through impregnation with specially
formulated solutions allows for the creation of a unique and practical material. At
the same time, there is a significant shortage of materials for highly effective
waterproofing of canvas. This study presents the results of improving the
waterproofing technology of cotton-based canvas using accessible and practical
waterproofing materials
—
aqueous acrylic copolymer latexes. The physical and
mechanical properties, including tensile strength, elongation at break, water
resistance, and air permeability of the prepared samples, have been investigated.
Keywords.
Polymer latexes, waterproofing, impregnation, water resistance,
air permeability
.
INTRODUCTION
Being a highly durable textile material, canvas is widely used in various
applications, including the production of tents, tarpaulins, shelters, and other
equipment where water resistance is essential. Canvas or sailcloth, manufactured
with a plain weave from 100% cotton yarn, impregnated with a waterproofing
composite, and dyed in the required color, can achieve a surface density of
approximately 600
–900 g/m². Such fabric effectively repels precipitation while
maintaining air and vapor permeability, exhibiting minimal elongation in both
longitudinal and transverse directions. Additionally, it remains lightfast, resistant
to environmental influences, and is expected to last for several years while
withstanding a water column pressure of at least 30 cm [1]. At the same time, its
air permeability should not be less than 5 dm³/m²s [2
].
Hydrophobic treatment of canvas is applied to enhance the fabric’s water
-
repellent properties using impregnating compositions. Each waterproofing method
has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the material's operating
conditions. For example, impregnating canvas with paraffin [3] or wax solutions
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requires specific conditions, often involving organic solvents, which introduce
several inconveniences and pose safety hazards [4].
The use of acrylic latexes in an aqueous medium as waterproofing agents is
beneficial due to their availability, relative affordability, and safety, as water is used
as the solvent in this process. The polymer film formed on the fibers not only
prevents migration, volatility, and abrasion but also retains additional pores created
by water evaporation, enhancing the material’s overall performance [5].
LITERATURE REVIEW
The earliest samples of canvas were produced using a plain weave from thick
linen or its mixture with cotton fibers [6]. This material exhibits excellent
waterproof properties while maintaining sufficient air permeability. Canvas
obtained through this method was additionally treated with natural water-repellent
and anti-decay substances.
Patent and literature analysis results indicate that one of the earliest works on
obtaining waterproof cotton fabrics is the Nikwax Tx.10i patent, which describes
the treatment of textile material with a water-based "elastomer" [7]. The
composition included effective hydrophobic additives, possibly based on silicone
compounds in the form of emulsions.
Currently, widely used in the republic, cotton-based canvas is produced by
impregnating fabric with a paraffin solution in an organic solvent medium, usually
gasoline [8]. This material demonstrates good air permeability and waterproofing
properties immediately after production. However, when exposed to natural
climatic conditions, canvas loses its operational properties within the first few
months due to the low physical and mechanical properties of paraffin and its weak
adhesion to surfaces [9].
Naturally, the durability of the product depends on usage conditions, drying,
warehouse storage after industrial use, and the type and effectiveness of the
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waterproofing composite. Studies on the practical application of paraffin-treated
sailcloths, particularly in the country's cotton mills, indicate that canvas materials
do not meet the required water-repellent standards by the second or third season
[10].
There are many high-molecular impregnating compositions available, such as
silicone-based solutions [11], polyurethane, and various other polymeric materials
[12], but these are relatively expensive and difficult to obtain.
The challenge of maintaining key operational characteristics of cotton
canvas
—
water repellency, resistance to moisture and decay
—
can be addressed by
using a more accessible and relatively inexpensive aqueous polyacrylate emulsion
as an impregnating composite. This material is characterized by the absence of
migration, volatility, and abrasion of the film-forming substance. Many studies,
including those conducted by our domestic researchers, have been dedicated to the
synthesis and polymerization of acrylic and methacrylic acid derivatives [13].
From this perspective, it is important to note that the polymer coating formed
on cotton fibers has a critical surface tension for wetting similar to many other
organic polymer coatings, comparable to paraffin, and falls within the range of
approximately 40-45 mN/m
—
significantly lower than water, which has a surface
tension of 72-73 mN/m [14]. This suggests that the polymer coating will not be
easily wetted by water; instead, water will likely be repelled or form droplets on
the polymer surface.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Naturally, these calculations are averaged and are more applicable to
homogeneous capillary materials. Since textile materials have a high degree of pore
size heterogeneity, there is still a possibility that certain areas with wider pores may
allow water penetration.
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As the polymer concentration increases and the thickness of the polymer film
on the fibers grows, the pore size between them will naturally decrease. However,
this can also lead to undesirable effects, such as a reduction in the air and vapor
permeability of the material below acceptable norms.
To determine the optimal concentration of the aqueous copolymer emulsion
composition, a 3.5% aqueous solution was initially prepared with the addition of
finely dispersed inorganic construction pigments. These pigments help ensure an
even application of the protective layer and provide the required color to the final
material.
The tested material was cotton canvas-based tarpaulin with a density of
approximately 600 g/m². The process of preparing the water
-based impregnation
solution includes the following steps: preparation of raw materials, mixing of the
film-forming solution with the pigment.
In this study, tests were conducted to evaluate the main physical and
mechanical properties of three material samples in accordance with international
standards ISO, ASTM, and GOST. Parameters such as air permeability, water
resistance, and mechanical strength are crucial for various industries, including
light and heavy industry, protective workwear, technical textiles, construction, and
the military sector.
1. Water Resistance Testing
Testing Method: Schopper-type
Water
Resistance Tester (MODEL: WR-
1600E)
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Manufacturer:DAIEI KAGAKU
SEIKI
MEG.CO., LTD
Unit of Measurement: mm H₂O
(millimeters of
water column)
Standards: AATCC 127-2018,
ISO 811:2018
2. Air Permeability Testing
Testing Method: Frazier-Type Air
Permeability
Tester (MODEL: 360SM)
Unit of Measurement: dm
3
/m²·s (liters
per square
meter per second)
Standards: ASTM D737-18, ISO
9237:1995
3. Mechanical Strength Testing:
Tensile
Strength and Breaking Force
Testing Method: AUTOGRAPH
Units of Measurement:
MPa (megapascal)
–
tensile strength
N (Newton)
–
breaking force
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Standards: ISO 13934-1:2013, ASTM
D5034-21
RESULTS
To develop a highly effective waterproofing impregnating material, a more
accessible and relatively inexpensive high-molecular compound
—
an aqueous
emulsion based on polymeric acrylic latex
—
was selected. This material, a
copolymer of butyl acrylate with styrene, is commonly used in construction as a
binding agent for facade coatings and as a hydrophobic protective layer [15].
Preliminary observations revealed that when fabric is treated with this 50%
water-based polymer latex composition and dried, water remains on the surface for
an extended period without seeping through the pores of the material. During the
impregnation process, a thin layer of elastic polymer film is formed on the fiber
surface, enhancing the material’s hydrophobic properties [16].
The treated textile material, impregnated with the waterproofing solution,
can be dried to a constant weight using various methods: in natural conditions, in
open air, or in specialized drying chambers at low temperatures (around 50-
60°C).
This prevents potential negative effects of high temperatures on the properties of
the thin polymer film formed on the fibers.
The following key physical and mechanical properties of the treated textile
material were studied: water resistance, air permeability, tensile strength, and
relative elongation.
Results approximately 25 cm. At the same time, its air permeability is 17
l/m²·s, and tensile strength is 170 N in the warp direction and 110 N in the weft
direction. These values are significantly lower compared to canvas materials made
from mixed flax-cotton fibers, as shown in the table.
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TABLE 1.
Comparative Physical and Mechanical Properties of Canvas Used for
Protecting Cotton Seed Bundles
The observed insufficient waterproofing and relatively high air permeability
of the studied material indicate the formation of a relatively thin polymer film on
the fibers of the treated textile material and the presence of wider pores than required
according to the preliminary calculations mentioned earlier.
To address this issue, a second layer of waterproofing material was applied to
the dried fabric. After drying, the main physical and mechanical properties of the
№
List of Indicators
Unit of
Measure
ment
Physical
and
Mechanical
Indicators
1
Treatment Method
Untreate
d
Impregnat
ed in one
layer
Impregnat
ed in two
layers
2
Yarn Composition
Linen,
Cotton
Cotton
Cotton
3
Tensile Strength:
-Warp
-Weft
MPa
210
160
170
110
190
140
4
Relative Elongation:
-Warp
-Weft
%
14
16
18
15
19
17
5
Water
Resistance
(minimum)
mm
of
water
column
300
250
400
6
Air
Permeability
(minimum)
dm³/m²·s
5,0
17,0
11,0
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newly treated canvas material were studied again, and the results are presented in
the table.
CONCLUSION
Analysis of the results of the two-layer impregnation shows an increase in
tensile strength characteristics, both in the warp and in the weft, its relative
elongation, and especially a significant increase in the waterproofness of the
material, which reached 400 mm of water column.
At the same time, it is also important to note a significant reduction in the air
permeability of the obtained samples, which is naturally a result of this
waterproofing method. This feature of the method allows the regulation of the
waterproofing properties of tarpaulin materials in a relatively simple and accessible
way.
This operation also leads to an increase in the strength characteristics of the
material, as the additional polymeric layer on the fiber surface, as well as bonding
some of the fibers that are relatively tightly positioned together.
Thus, a positive result has been achieved in the matter of waterproofing cotton
tarpaulins using a simple and accessible method. Continuing research in this
direction, the next stage of work will involve, in the first phase, obtaining a thin
waterproof layer using this method, and in the second phase, applying an additional
fine-dispersed nanoscale layer of silicon oxide powder onto the still wet surface, as
this material has significantly stronger hydrophobic properties today.
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1.
Rakhimov A., Karimov B. "Development of Water-Resistant Cotton-
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Ismailov U., Tursunova D. "Air Permeability and Strength Analysis of
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