The effect of water repellency finishing on selected performance properties of upholstery fabrics produced from chenille yarns

Abstract

This study presents an evaluation of the effect of water-repellency finishing on the performance of upholstery fabrics manufactured from chenille yarns. Six different chenille yarns were manufactured as samples using piles made from three different raw materials (polyester, acrylic and viscose) and with two different heights. Then, six upholstery fabrics were woven used these chenille yarns in the weft direction and keeping all other weaving parameters fixed. Water repellency finishing was applied at 60% and 80% impregnation ratios using fluorocarbon-based finishing chemicals. The samples were tested for abrasion resistance and water repellency properties according to the standards. The results were evaluated statistically and graphically. The samples were analyzed before and after the abrasion process using a scanning electron microscope. As a result of the tests, water repellency of all the samples increased as expected after the finishing process. It was observed that the water repellency finish affected the abrasion resistance positively for all raw materials. Thus, the mass loss of the finished samples after the abrasion was less than that of the nonfinished samples. But, after the abrasion process, the water repellency of the samples was affected negatively.