Textile products in healthcare environments need to be durable and cleanable while still remaining attractive to users. Over the last two decades, the textile industry has developed several fabric coatings and finishes that achieve these goals while being friendlier to the environment than previous options. An article by Array Architects gives an overview of several of the most common available fabric treatment options.
Most of the finishes cited in the article are focused on providing moisture resistance. Most often, these are chemically bonded to the fabric's fibers. The different finishes can sometimes be used in combination on a single fabric to create a customized solution for the healthcare user. The finishes discussed for their moisture resistance in the article include Greenshield, Nano-Tex, Dura-Block and Crypton.
Two of the finishes, BioAM and InCase, are also said to provide antimicrobial protection. The article notes that silver, often touted for its antimicrobial properties, is very toxic to fresh and saltwater organisms and can be released when laundered. BioAm is described as non-leaching and silver-free.
Increasing the abrasion resistance of a fabric is another end goal possible with certain finishes. For example, Dura-Block increases abrasion resistance by 50 percent, says the article. EnviroCoat is another finish for abrasion resistance.
Read the article.
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