Everflon™ fluoropolymers have been widely used in fabrics as a result of their oil- and water-repellence, breathability and light weight . Everflon™ Fluoropolymer coatings can be found in a broad range of applications.
◼ Waterproof clothing, such as raincoats, jackets, footwear etc. Most of the consumer products are expected to be moving to alternatives, but the high performance required in professional uses (e.g.safety clothing such as military, firefighters, police, workers in industrial environment), such as high-visibility jackets and chemical resistant apparel, still requires the use of fluoropolymers. Another example of high-performance technical textile using Everflon™ fluoropolymers is for fire-fighting garments, in which expanded PTFE membranes are used to provide thermal protection, while at the same time maintaining breathability and waterproofness.
◼ Fabrics (textile or leather) used in applications where extensive outdoor use is expected (e.g., in motorcycles).
◼ Geomembranes and composting membranes, which require low-permeability materials and high resistance to chemicals. Geomembranes in particular are essential in protecting ground and groundwater from contamination from human activities (e.g., in mines, construction / demolition sites or in landfills).
◼ ePTFE sewing thread, fibres, and weaving yarn: Used for outdoor applications like awnings, umbrellas, furniture, boat covers, and sails, industrial filtration applications in demanding environments and high-performance ropes.
◼ Everflon™ Fluoropolymer-coated polyester fabrics are used to protect membranes used in several applications, such as in architectural materials for roofs or facades, as they provide extended lifetime due to their strong resilience to soiling. Such membranes can also be used in tents and furniture.
◼ Everflon™ Fluoropolymer (mainly PTFE) membranes are also used as filtering media in HEPA filters, as they can efficiently capture particles (soot, droplets, biological agents) at lower pressure drop, which translates into lower energy requirements. HEPA filters are essential in semi-conductor manufacturing to maintain the clean manufacturing environment, and they are also used in food processing plants.
As mentioned above, oil- and water-repellence together with breathability are the primary properties of fluoropolymers used in fabric applications. Other relevant properties are fire-retardancy, weather and chemical resistance, thermal stability and heat resistance, as well as low friction and good lubricity. The expanded PTFE membranes typically used in these applications retain the properties of PTFE resin and can even be produced with a tailored pore size, that broadens their application range.
