Maintaining the hydrophobicity of a polyolefin textile

Abstract

A method for maintaining the hydrophobicity of a hydrophobic polyolefin textile material over time and use. The method includes providing a solution having a pH level between 3.5 and 5.9, subjecting the hydrophobic polyolefin textile material to the solution, and drying. The processed hydrophobic polyolefin textile material maintains hydrophobicity with a contact angle with water of at least 90 degrees permanently. The processed hydrophobic polyolefin fabric can be used in a monolayer or bilayer configuration. The processed hydrophobic polyolefin fabric improves the water vapor transfer through the processed fabric because the processed hydrophobic polyolefin fabric does not saturate, wick or swell with liquid perspiration thereby reducing water liquid attached to fabric pores which increases the volume of space for diffusion of perspiration vapor from the skin, through the fabric, to the outside ambient air. The result is a drier, more comfortable processed garment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.