All you need to know about down-proof fabric

 

Down-proof fabric is the perfect option for filling a range of bed items, including quilts and pillows. The fabric is woven very firmly in cotton material with extremely fine yarns. It is capable of reducing the permeability to fillers, making it ideal to use for various bed items.  However, these fabrics are quickly susceptible to creasing and the created crease marks can be easily seen. Thus, these fabrics need to be finished with WFR. Moreover, as the yarns of the fabric are tightly woven, it is extremely difficult to wash, as well. Most manufacturers provide the fabric with the Stain Release finish to provide them with an aesthetic look.

Several factors influence the properties of the down-proof fabric. The construction factors of the fabric can have a substantial effect on air permeability. It means that these design factors may cause a change in the length of the path of the airflow through the fabric. Yarn twist is considered an important factor when buying the fabric for filling all essential bed items. With an increase in a twist, the density, as well as the circularity of the yarn, will increase, as well. An excess twist will have an effect on the diameter of the yarn, which will ultimately decrease.  The reduction in the cover factor allows the rounder yarns to pack closely together in a firmly woven arrangement with condensed air permeability.

Another factor that influences the properties of the down-proof fabric is the Yarn crimp and weave, which will influence the shape as well as the interstice area between yarns. They may make yarns expand easily, thus causing heralding the fabric, increasing the free space, and amplifying the air permeability. The components of the fabric can be flattened by making use of hot calendaring to reduce air permeability.

Down-proof fabric can be widely classified according to its finishing, as well. There is a possibility of reducing the yarn interstice area by decreasing its size.  Fabrics that come with the formulation of curable finishing contain silicone amalgams and filler in the medium of silicone that can be applied to them, dried, and treated. The fabric is then calendered.

Down-proof fabric can be finished using the traditional process, as well. However, the effectiveness of the process mainly counts on calendering fabrics that are also supposed to be finished with traditional strong-press resin compositions, such as a catalyst, an n-methylol resin, a damping agent, and a softener. Starch is also the most suitable filling agent when added to the traditional durable-press finishing formulation. This is for the reason that it is capable of reducing the fabric permeability to a limited level. However, the main setback in using starch is that it is only appropriate to the down-proof process of harsh and heavy fabrics. It may cause dusting problems while manufacturing, sewing operations, and using the fabric.

Using wax in the down-proof finishing process will make the fabric a non-durable product, but some manufacturers use it for economical reasons. Down-proof fabric is said to be reliable, durable, strong, and performance-centric only when it passes the ASTM D737 process successfully.