Coated polymeric fabric having reduced adsorption of protein

A coated polyolefin fabric which comprises:

• a base ply of a polyolefin fabric having a surface;
• and
• a surfactant on the surface of the fabric;
• in which the surfactant is present on the fabric in an amount of at least about 0.3 percent by weight, based on the weight of the fabric, and has the general formula, ##STR5## wherein:
• each of R.sub.1 -R.sub.9 independently is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl and aryl groups;
• R.sub.10 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group;
• a represents an integer from about 20 to about 100;
• b represents an integer from about 4 to about 10;
• c represents an integer from 1 to about 10;
• d represents an integer from about 0 to about 30;
• e represents an integer from about 0 to about 30;
• the sum of d and e is in a range of from about 5 to about 60;
• and
• the number-average molecular weight of the surfactant is in a range of from about 5,000 to about 60,000;
• and the coated polymeric fabric has been treated by air corona discharge at a corona energy density of from about 10 to about 280 kilojoules per square meter.

A method of reducing the adsorption of protein by a polymeric fabric which comprises:

• providing a polymeric fabric having a surface;
• applying to the surface of the polymeric fabric a composition comprising water and a surfactant adapted to reduce the adsorption of protein by the polymeric fabric;
• and
• treating the fabric to which a surfactant has been applied by air corona discharge at a corona energy density of from about 10 about 280 kJ m.sup.-2 ;
• in which the surfactant has the general formula, ##STR6## wherein:
• each of R.sub.1 -R.sub.9 independently is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl and aryl groups;
• R.sub.10 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group;
• a represents an integer from about 20 to about 100;
• b represents an integer from 4 to about 10;
• c represents an integer from 1 to about 10;
• d represents an integer from about 0 to about 30;
• e represents an integer from about 0 to about 30;
• the sum of d and e is in a range of from about 5 to about 60;
• and
• the number-average molecular weight of the surfactant is in a range of from about 5,000 to about 60,000.