Waterproof coated fabric is a type of textile material that has been treated to be waterproof and breathable

Waterproof coated fabric is a type of textile material that has been treated to be waterproof and breathable. The treatment can be done through various methods such as coating, impregnation, and lamination. The resulting material is often used to make clothing and outdoor gear that are designed to be worn or used in rainy and snowy weather. There are many different claims out there about unique construction methods for waterproof fabric, but all of these are based on the same principle. The coating process involves a liquid glue being applied to the surface of the fabric and then curing. The liquid glue can be either hydrophilic or hydrophobic, and it is often available in both wet and dry versions.

The first attempts to obtain water-repellent protective clothing date back to the 15th century. At that time sailors tried to impregnate their cloth with linseed oil, animal fat, and wax. However, it was not until 400 years later that Charles Macintosh produced the first patented waterproof fabric. Macintosh succeeded in creating a durable and wearable garment by sandwiching a layer of rubber made from an oily liquid byproduct of tar called naphtha between two woven fabrics. He achieved this by using a process known as rubber vulcanization - which was patented in November 1843 in England.

Wool is a natural material that is naturally water resistant, but it can be made even more waterproof by coating it with lanolin (naturally occurring oils) to create a softer and less irritating material. This is a common practice for making coats. Fleece can also be made more waterproof by applying a special wax coating.

There are several ways to achieve a waterproof coating on fabric, and the most important factor is the type of base fabric. The grammage, thickness and quality of the base fabric are very important, as is how the fabric is finished after the coating is applied. The fabric can be sprayed, pressed, laminated or bonded with the coating.

Alternatively, the fabric can be impregnated with polymeric substances. These can be added to the yarn during the manufacturing process or applied as a post-treatment. The most popular technique is the DWR (durable water repellent) coating, which decreases the pore size of the fabric and makes it harder for water to penetrate. Other techniques include hydrophobization, which makes the surface of the fabric repel water droplets rather than attract them. This can be done with a variety of chemicals, including paraffin emulsions and resin-type additives.

To be considered a truly waterproof fabric, the fabric must be able to resist water penetration for at least one hour, regardless of how long it is exposed. This measurement is usually made by the fabric manufacturer to compare the performance of their product with that of other brands, but it should be taken into consideration that the rating may be influenced by how the fabric is used.