Aqueous Liquid Repellency Test

Liquid-repellent features are desirable attributes of some workwear, such as catering uniforms, to help prevent stains and prolong the life of the garment. The aqueous stain resistance property enhances the durability of garments.

Aqueous liquid repellency is the ability of a fabric to repel most aqueous liquids, such as water/alcohol solutions, on contact for protection. It is determined by using a selected series of water/alcohol with different surface tensions to check the liquid stain resistance. Aqueous liquids not only refer to water, but also alcohols, rainwater, food sources and beverages. Liquid repellent products can provide protection to clothing, carpets and upholstery from interacting with the liquids.<

Aqueous liquid repellent clothing can retain desired look and color, even if it’s not possible to clean it often due to material or design selection. It also enables liquids to roll off or be dabbed away and leaves the underlying material unchanged.

Aqueous liquid repellent property can be tested by below procedures:

1. Prepare 8 bottles of chemicals, numbered from 1 to 8. No. 1 is the one with the largest surface tension and no. 8 is that with the lowest surface tension.
2. Drop several droplets of No. 1 liquid on the specimen surface and observe the liquid is absorbed or not. 
3. If No. 1 liquid passes, No. 2 liquid will be used to repeat the test of 2. If No. 2 also passes; then using No. 3 liquid.
4. The test will be finished until there has a liquid failed.

The applicable methods for anti-fungal testing include:

• AATCC 193
• ISO 23232