Surface modifications were made to As-Bonded and Heat-Stretched (elastic) Cotton-Surfaced Nonwovens (CSN’s) to enhance barrier, repellency and abrasion resistance by the applications of foamed fluorochemical (FC), latex-only and a combination of latex and FC finishes using the Foam Finishing Technology (FFT) pilot equipment at TANDEC, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. These finishes were applied as semi-stable foams with a wet pick-up of 50% or less to save energy in drying the fabrics and to better preserve fabric hand.

Both unfinished and finished CSN samples were evaluated for the resistance to penetration of water under static pressure (hydrohead), oil and alcohol repellency as well as air permeability. Other properties evaluated were tensile strength and extension, softness, and abrasion resistance of the fabrics. “Ring Friction” apparatus developed at Auburn University were also applied to evaluate hand related properties which predict responses to surface friction, folding and bending resistance and to fabric stiffness.