Waterproof Cotton

I am doing a science fair project on waterproofing cotton socks. I have searched the entire internet for recipies to make a mixture that will help me do this. Please, if you have ANY ideas, let me know. Even if it is a waterproof mixture that can be used on any cotton! Thanks so much! 10 points=reward for best answer!

It took me a minute or two [LOL] to find you this recipe, and it's made from common over the counter materials. I hope it helps, Good Luck!

Homemade Fabric Protectant

By Cyinda (1318)

They have lots of waterproofing recipes from long ago (like WWII), but most of these are made with wax that's been dissolved in kerosene which means they are VERY flammable. This is how tents & tarps were waterproofed before plastic was invented when they were made from thick cotton or canvas.

MY TECHNIQUE:
My recommendation would be to buy a large bottle of Dimethicone, Cylomethicone or Silicone based anti-frizz hair product. (There are called: Frizz-eze, Citra-shine & other names. I have a 4 ounce bottle called "Straight & Shiny that I got on sale for only $1.69) It's sold in drug stores. Buy the biggest bottle you can get for your money. It's totally clear & feels very slippery to the touch. Be sure to look for a brand without a bunch of extra additives. I use it to lubricate my spinning wheel & my banding wheel (for pottery). You would then need to add the dimethicone hair product to a bottle of 99% rubbing alcohol & shake, then add a bit more at a time until it's the dimethicone product is dissolved in the alcohol. Lastly pour the product into a well marked spray bottle & spray onto the fabric you'd like to protect. The alcohol will quickly evaporate leaving the silicone/dimethacone..Do this on a small piece of sample fabric first. Maybe you could buy a bottle of plain Silicone for less money on the internet than the store-bought hair serums then mix it with the alcohol? You'll want about 1 part silicone/dimethacone with at least 10 - 20 parts of 99% rubbing alcohol. This will not leave the fabric feeling greasy or sticky.

Posted on 04/20/2009

2009-11-12 06:28:29 by DS Game Helper

A waterproof, crushproof tinder that packs very light and small.

I have a cotton twill overcoat that I would like to waterproof and use as a raincoat. Is there a spray, or something nto use in the washer/dryer?

There are both methods to waterproof garments. If it is a garment that can be washed, you can find solutions made by many manufacturers that work in the washing machine by simply adding the solution, mostly to the rinse water. Most of these are sold in the camping and outdoors aisle in the discounters as well as at places like Big 5 Sporting Goods, REI and Sports Chalet.

The spray on type is sold in the discounters and 3M makes a good one. You can find them in the patio section as well as in the camping aisles.

In my experience, the type that you add in the washing machine lasts longer and doesn't require re-application (particularly in downpours that saturate the garment) as often as the spray on type. But either will work.

2008-03-06 12:00:27 by tom4416

Price: $24.99 $18.83

Machine washable for easy care; made in China
Twin-size mattress pad for added comfort and waterproofing
Quiet, durable polyurethane layer provides reliable mattress protection

I was thinking of using silicone spray, but it doesn't specify if you can do that.

There is an Australian long jacket - kind of like a trench coat, called a Drisoban (I think). It is an oil rubbed cotton. Check them out, see if you can find the process they use on the material to make it repel water. It beads on it like a ducks back.

2006-04-17 17:04:30 by noslicker

Price: $24.99 $24.99

Specially designed patented safety stay-on corners and extra-deep sides keep this mattress pad in place at all times, no matter how thick the mattress
Certified by Organic Exchange Blended Standards
Lead and phthalate free waterproof polyurethane protective layer

I seem to recall several years ago that alum could be used as a way of waterproofing cloth. Think the material had to be soaked in water with dissolved alum but don't know the details. Thanks for any ideas.

For Rotorea....Alum is not alumium powder. It is a salt, soluble in water.

Alum - Aluminium Potasium Sulphate....was commonly used for waterproofing buildings, painted on or sprayed, after mixing with a lead activator which is extremely toxic. Alum itself is also toxic.Soft brick and limestone buildings were often proofed with it.. It can be bought in drums of up to 40 gallons.
Aluminmium Hydroxide is also used for brick and limestone waterproofing, but no activator is required.

Proper protective clothing and eye protection must be worn.
Neither is pleasant to handle, and both are toxic.
The danger of forming aluninium hydroxide while cooking is the health concern with aluninium pans.

Alum is also used as a mordent to allow fabrics to accept dyes more easily.

FABRIC WATERPROOFING.
Alum as a fabric waterproofer has been superceded by silicon and other products.
As a flysheet waterproofer it will withstand light rain for a few minutes, but little else.
It is better for brick and limestone, because of the depth of penetration, and resulting thick layer of water resistance.

A classic waterproofer for fabrics, especially canvas, is beeswax, which is dissolved in white spirit or petrol, painted on or soaked in and air-dried...on the washing line.
Other soft waxes may be substituted but hard waxes, like candle wax are no good.

Fabsil, made by Grangers, is available from outdoor recreation shops and some DIY outlets and builders merchants in spray cans , 1 litre bottles and 5 litre poly containers, and is painted on or the material can be soaked in it using a baby bath or similar and then given a light spin and tumble dried on low heat setting for a few minutes and hung up to finish drying.
For re-proofing tents just paint it on with a wide emulsion brush or a wallpaper brush and let it dry.
Hot days give the best results.
http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/ 877/shopscr34.html

Nikwax is an expensive but excellent waterproofer for fabric clothing and tents, with different varieties available for cotton, nylon, leather, etc..
It is mixed with warm water and the fabric/clothing,etc is soaked, quickly rinsed with cold water, lightly spun, and tumble dried.
It is used by serious mountaineers, fishermen, sailors, and for other outdoor sports where very good waterproofing is required.

Click on 'outdoors' > 'equipment' > 'tents, flysheets' to get detailed info about the product and it's use for best performance.
http://www.nikwax.com/en-gb/index.php

2009-08-03 10:21:38 by David B

If I buy a can of the wax for clothes waterproofing will it work on a hitherto unwaxed cotton jacket and if so does anyone know what to do?

Thank you

Forget about spraying anything - get yourself some Nikwax. It really works and will treat all of the jacket and you do it yourself. Google it you won't be dissapointed.

2007-11-08 07:21:21 by Glenn