How much do you know about the materials used in raincoats and the principles behind their waterproofing?
Release Date:
2023-01-09
Author:
Hengwei Garment Manufacturing
Raincoats are a common and widely used item in our daily lives. They not only shield us from the rain while cycling but also serve as essential gear for outdoor work in many industries. Although raincoats come in a variety of materials, their underlying principle of operation is largely the same.
Raincoats are a common and widely used item in our daily lives. They not only shield us from the rain while cycling but also serve as essential gear for outdoor work in many industries. Although raincoats come in a variety of materials, their underlying principle of operation is largely the same.
What materials are raincoats made of?
Material 1: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): This is the familiar jelly‑like, semi‑transparent plastic raincoat. Such raincoats are inexpensive and come in a wide variety of colors and styles, but they tend to tear easily.
Material 2: Nylon with PVC coating—this involves applying a waterproof PVC layer to the inner surface of nylon fabric. It is moderately priced, resistant to tearing, and currently the primary material used for raincoats; however, it tends to wrinkle easily during use.
Material type three: waterproof and breathable fabric—this is achieved by coating the inner surface of the fabric with a waterproof, breathable layer, similar to the raincoats commonly used by police officers and mountaineers. It offers excellent water resistance and breathability, but comes at a higher price.
Material 4: Oxford cloth—fabric woven from nylon or polyester using a specific weaving technique. It is easy to wash and quick-drying, with a soft hand feel, good moisture absorption, and a gentle, muted color palette. The fabric is soft, breathable, and comfortable to wear, though it lacks abrasion resistance.
How a raincoat works:
When raindrops fall on it, they quickly coalesce into tiny beads and then roll off. This non‑wetting phenomenon is precisely what makes a raincoat waterproof. Because the adhesive forces between rubber molecules and water molecules are much weaker than the cohesive forces among water molecules themselves, water tends to cluster together and bead up, rolling down the surface of the raincoat. Meanwhile, the fabric used to make raincoats contains numerous tiny pores; however, since water does not wet the rubber, water molecules cannot easily pass through these pores. As a result, the pores do not impede the passage of air molecules, thereby ensuring the raincoat’s breathability.
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