process for treating a porous substrate to achieve improved water and oil repellency

A method for treating a porous substrate (10) to achieve permanent water and oil repellency while maintaining the porosity thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

• A) providing a fluoroacrylate monomer (16) of the formula (C.sub.n F.sub.2n+1) (CH.sub.2).sub.x (CHR) OCOCH.dbd.CH.sub.2, where:
• n is an integer, X is:
• 0, 1, 2 or 3 and R is:
• H or CH.sub.2 OCOCH.dbd.CH.sub.2 ;
• B) disposing the monomer (16) in a carrier vehicle so as to form a mixture (14) thereof;
• C) impregnating the substrate (10) with the monomer mixture (14);
• d) removing substantially all of the vehicle from the substrate (10):
• and
• E) initiating polymerization of the monomer (16) after substantially all of the vehicle is removed from the substrate whereby the monomer (16) is polymerized to form a conformal, oil and water repellant coating (16') which is mechanically adhered to the substrate.