The invention provides a method of coating a fabric, e.g. a textile material, with a polymer coating, which method comprises contacting a fabric with a monomer and subjecting the monomer to low power plasma polymerization, wherein the monomer comprises the general formula (I): C.sub.nF.sub.2n+1C.sub.mX.sub.2mCR.sub.1Y—OCO—C(R.sub.2)═CH.sub.2, wherein n is 2 to 6, m is 0 to 9, X and Y are H, F, Cl, Br or I, R.sub.1 is H or alkyl, e.g. —CH.sub.3, or a substituted alkyl, e.g. an at least partially halo-substituted alkyl, and R.sub.2 is H or alkyl, e.g. —CH.sub.3 or a substituted alkyl, e.g. an at least partially halo-substituted alkyl.

The invention provides a method of coating a fabric, e.g. a textile material, with a polymer coating, which method comprises contacting a fabric with a monomer and subjecting the monomer to low power plasma polymerization, wherein the monomer comprises the general formula (I): C.sub.nF.sub.2n+1C.sub.mX.sub.2mCR.sub.1Y—OCO—C(R.sub.2)═CH.sub.2, wherein n is 2 to 6, m is 0 to 9, X and Y are H, F, Cl, Br or I, R.sub.1 is H or alkyl, e.g. —CH.sub.3, or a substituted alkyl, e.g. an at least partially halo-substituted alkyl, and R.sub.2 is H or alkyl, e.g. —CH.sub.3 or a substituted alkyl, e.g. an at least partially halo-substituted alkyl.

The present invention provides a water-repellent woven or knitted article that overcomes the problems of the related art and exhibits water-repellent properties and is excellent in abrasion resistance and durability. The water-repellent woven or knitted article of the present invention is a woven or knitted article subjected to a water repellent treatment using a water repellent having a perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentration of 5 ng/g or less, wherein the woven or knitted article includes, as constituent fibers, fibers having a transverse cross-sectional shape, each fiber has a plurality of grooves at an outer circumference of the transverse cross section, each groove has a wide part, and a size of the grooves in the fibers satisfies the following Formulae (Formula 1) and (Formula 2):

w2/w1≥1.3  (Formula 1)

0.15≤h/d≤0.25  (Formula 2) where w1 represents a groove entrance width, w2 represents a groove wide part width, h represents a groove depth, and d represents a diameter of the fiber, a droplet contact angle between the woven or knitted article and water is 135° or more after 20 times of washing in accordance with a method of JIS L 0217 103 and a water repellency is grade 4 or more in accordance with a spray method of JIS L 1092.

The present invention provides a water-repellent woven or knitted article that overcomes the problems of the related art and exhibits water-repellent properties and is excellent in abrasion resistance and durability. The water-repellent woven or knitted article of the present invention is a woven or knitted article subjected to a water repellent treatment using a water repellent having a perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentration of 5 ng/g or less, wherein the woven or knitted article includes, as constituent fibers, fibers having a transverse cross-sectional shape, each fiber has a plurality of grooves at an outer circumference of the transverse cross section, each groove has a wide part, and a size of the grooves in the fibers satisfies the following Formulae (Formula 1) and (Formula 2):

w2/w1≥1.3  (Formula 1)

0.15≤h/d≤0.25  (Formula 2) where w1 represents a groove entrance width, w2 represents a groove wide part width, h represents a groove depth, and d represents a diameter of the fiber, a droplet contact angle between the woven or knitted article and water is 135° or more after 20 times of washing in accordance with a method of JIS L 0217 103 and a water repellency is grade 4 or more in accordance with a spray method of JIS L 1092.

The present invention provides a water-repellent woven or knitted article that overcomes the problems of the related art and exhibits water-repellent properties and is excellent in abrasion resistance and durability. The water-repellent woven or knitted article of the present invention is a woven or knitted article subjected to a water repellent treatment using a water repellent having a perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentration of 5 ng/g or less, wherein the woven or knitted article includes, as constituent fibers, fibers having a transverse cross-sectional shape, each fiber has a plurality of grooves at an outer circumference of the transverse cross section, each groove has a wide part, and a size of the grooves in the fibers satisfies the following Formulae (Formula 1) and (Formula 2):
w2/w11.3(Formula 1)
0.15h/d0.25(Formula 2) where w1 represents a groove entrance width, w2 represents a groove wide part width, h represents a groove depth, and d represents a diameter of the fiber, a droplet contact angle between the woven or knitted article and water is 135 or more after 20 times of washing in accordance with a method of JIS L 0217 103 and a water repellency is grade 4 or more in accordance with a spray method of JIS L 1092.

The present invention provides a water-repellent woven or knitted article that overcomes the problems of the related art and exhibits water-repellent properties and is excellent in abrasion resistance and durability. The water-repellent woven or knitted article of the present invention is a woven or knitted article subjected to a water repellent treatment using a water repellent having a perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) concentration of 5 ng/g or less, wherein the woven or knitted article includes, as constituent fibers, fibers having a transverse cross-sectional shape, each fiber has a plurality of grooves at an outer circumference of the transverse cross section, each groove has a wide part, and a size of the grooves in the fibers satisfies the following Formulae (Formula 1) and (Formula 2):
w2/w11.3(Formula 1)
0.15h/d0.25(Formula 2) where w1 represents a groove entrance width, w2 represents a groove wide part width, h represents a groove depth, and d represents a diameter of the fiber, a droplet contact angle between the woven or knitted article and water is 135 or more after 20 times of washing in accordance with a method of JIS L 0217 103 and a water repellency is grade 4 or more in accordance with a spray method of JIS L 1092.