A process for modifying a silicone elastomeric-based surface of a textile article where the coefficient of friction (COF) of the silicone elastomeric-based surface is generally reduced by at least 5% is disclosed. The process comprises subjecting the silicone elastomeric-based surface of the textile article to vacuum ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

A method for stabilizing the physical dimensions and positioning of at least one selected textile region of a knitted garment. The method includes producing the garment including a conductive textile electrode, rigidifying the at least one selected textile region and knitting a preconfigured region proximal to the at least one selected textile region with a lower knitting density than the preconfigured density of the tubular form. The invention further provides a garment having a tubular form, knitted by a seamless knitting machine with base-yarns. The garment includes at least one conductive textile electrode. The garment further includes at least one preconfigured region in proximity to the at least one selected textile region, having a lower knitting density than the preconfigured density of the tubular form and the at least one selected textile region.

An aqueous coating film-forming composition is provided that can be coated uniformly on a silicone rubber surface without causing repelling or coating failure even when applied to the silicone rubber surface at a film thickness of 30 m or less, and forms an antifriction dry coating film that reduces friction and/or blocking of the substrate surface on the surface. The composition comprises (A) a solid lubricant, (B) a thickener, and (C) a silicone binder in the form of an oil-in-water silicone emulsion comprising (c1) an ionic emulsifier and (c2) a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymerized nonionic emulsifier. Water content is removed from the composition to form an antifriction dry coating film comprising 40 to 80 mass % of component (A), 0.50 to 10 mass % of component (B), 0.60 to 5 mass % of component (c2), and 5 to 49.5 mass % of component (C) (solid fraction). Applications thereof are also provided, e.g. airbag coatings.

An article has a finished fabric having two finished surfaces. A non-foamed aqueous composition is applied to one or both finished surfaces to provide a flock substitute at a dry coverage of 0.5-15 g/m.sup.2 per finished surface. This flock substitute improves anti-blocking characteristic and masks any tacky feel of the treated finished surface. The non-foamed aqueous composition has 0.5-20% solids and includes: (i) hollow glass particles of 5-100 m average particle size in an amount of 0.25-20 weight %, and which have a crush strength >50 MPa; (ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible film-forming organic polymeric binder that has a T.sub.g of less than 25 C.; (iii) a crosslinking agent if needed; and (iv) porous particles in an amount of less than 0.1 weight %. The weight ratio of the (i) hollow glass particles to the (ii) water-soluble or water-dispersible film-forming organic polymeric binder can be from 1:5 to and including 10:1.

An article has a finished fabric with two finished surfaces, and a treatment on at least one of the finished surfaces, which is a dry non-foamed aqueous composition as a flock substitute at 0.5-15 g/m.sup.2. It has an anti-blocking characteristic and masks any tacky feel of the finished fabric on the treated surfaces. The dry non-foamed aqueous composition includes: (i) hollow glass particles of 5-100 m average particle size in an amount of 10-99 weight %, which hollow glass particles have an impact strength of greater than 50 MPa; (ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible film-forming organic polymeric binder with a T.sub.g of less than 25 C.; (iii) a crosslinking agent if needed; and (iv) porous particles in an amount of less than 0.01 weight %. The weight ratio of the (i) hollow glass particles to the (ii) water-soluble or water-dispersible film-forming organic polymeric binder is from 1:5 to and including 10:1.

An article has a finished fabric having two finished surfaces. A non-foamed aqueous composition is applied directly to one or both finished surfaces to provide a flock substitute at a dry coverage of 0.5-15 g/m.sup.2 per finished surface. This flock substitute improves anti-blocking characteristic and masks any tacky feel of the treated finished surface. The non-foamed aqueous composition has 0.5-20% solids and includes: (i) hollow glass particles of 5-100 m average particle size in an amount of 0.25-20 weight %, and which have a crush strength >50 MPa; (ii) a water-soluble or water-dispersible film-forming organic polymeric binder that has a T.sub.g of less than 25 C.; (iii) a crosslinking agent if needed; and (iv) porous particles in an amount of less than 0.1 weight %. The weight ratio of the (i) hollow glass particles to the (ii) water-soluble or water-dispersible film-forming organic polymeric binder can be from 1:5 to 10:1.