Water repelling article

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a water repelling article for use in clothing comprising, at least one inner material and at least one outer material that substantially covers the inner material, wherein the article further comprises at least one water repelling agent uniformly distributed throughout the article and the article has a resiliently deformable non-flat three dimensional shape. In addition, a process for forming a water repelling article for use in clothing is disclosed.

1 . A process for forming a water repelling article for use in clothing, the process comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a starting article comprising at least one inner material and at least one outer material that substantially covers the inner material;   b) treating a starting article with at least one water repelling agent precursor to form a treated article; and   c) curing the treated article to generate the water repelling agent and form the water repelling article,   
       wherein the starting article has a resiliently deformable, non-flat three-dimensional shape. 
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the treatment step comprises an activating step, where the starting article is treated with an activating plasma to generate an activated article and a coating step, where the activated article is treated with an inert plasma and the at least one water repelling agent precursor to generate the treated article. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the activating plasma is generated from nitrogen or oxygen gas, optionally wherein the flow rate of the gas is from 10 to 80 sccm (e.g. 60 sccm). 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the activating plasma is generated under a reduced pressure and using a power of from 200 W to 300 W (e.g. the power is 250 W), optionally wherein the reduced pressure is from 0.1 to 0.5 mbar (e.g. such as from 0.2 to 0.5 mbar or from 0.12 to 0.45 mbar). 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 (a) the inert plasma is generated from argon gas; and/or   (b) the inert plasma is generated under a reduced pressure and using a power of from 150 W to 200 W (e.g. the power is 170 W), optionally the reduced pressure is from 0.1 to 0.5 mbar (e.g. such as from 0.2 to 0.5 mbar or from 0.12 to 0.45 mbar); and/or   (c) the flow rate of the gas is from 10 to 80 sccm (e.g. 60 sccm).   
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein treating the starting article comprises immersing the starting article in the at least one water repelling agent precursor. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein a step of removing excess water repelling agent precursor is performed before curing the treated article. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one water repelling agent precursor comprises paraffin waxes, silicones, silanes, fluorinated polymers, non-fluorinated water repelling polymers or a combination thereof, or the water repelling agent comprises fluorine and carbon atoms, optionally wherein the at least one water repelling agent precursor is at least one fluoroacrylate polymer 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one water repelling agent precursor in step (b) further comprises at least one wetting agent. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the article has a curvilinear topography, optionally wherein the article has a cup shape. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises the step of forming a garment that comprises said article, optionally wherein the garment is a shoe, medical equipment (e.g. a casting liner inner), a bra, a brassiere, swimwear, sportswear or casual wear. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outer material completely covers the inner material. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the starting article has a fixed three-dimensional shape that is complementary in shape to one of the group consisting of hands, arms, the head, shoulders, buttocks, breasts, knees, elbows and feet. 
     
     
         17 . A water repelling article for use in clothing comprising:
 at least one inner material; and   at least one outer material that substantially covers the inner material,   wherein the article:
 further comprises at least one water repelling agent uniformly distributed throughout the article; and 
 the article has a resiliently deformable non-flat three dimensional shape. 
   
     
     
         18 . The article according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one outer material completely covers the inner material. 
     
     
         19 . The article according to  claim 17 , wherein the article has a curvilinear topography, optionally wherein the article has a cup shape. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein:
 (a) the article forms part of a shoe, medical equipment (e.g. a casting liner inner), a bra, a brassiere, swimwear, sportswear or casual wear; and/or   (b) at least part of the article has a fixed three-dimensional shape that is complementary in shape to one of the group consisting of hands, arms, the head, shoulders, buttocks, breasts, knees, elbows and feet.   
     
     
         21 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the article has an improved texture in a blind test compared to a water repelling article prepared in a process comprising the step of immersing said article into a water-repellant precursor solution. 
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one water repelling agent has been impregnated within the article following plasma activation of said article to provide an improved feel and appearance. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The article according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one water repelling agent comprises paraffin waxes, silicones, silanes, fluorinated polymers, non-fluorinated water repelling polymers or a combination thereof, or the water repelling agent comprises fluorine and carbon atoms, optionally wherein the water repelling agent is at least one fluoroacrylate polymer.