Woven and nonwoven fabrics with and without barrier finishes were tested for resistance to aerosol spray penetration and physical factors which contribute to comfort desirable for protective clothing for pesticide applicators. An aerosol spray test procedure was developed to test the following spray carriers: (1) water, (2) water/surfactant (48:1), and (3) unrefined cottonseed oil/surfactant (4:1). All the carriers contained 0.1% methylene blue dye as an indicator. Physical properties (for example, density, weight, thickness, water vapor, and air permeability) were examined as indicators of fabric comfort. The presence of fluorocarbon-based finishes increased the resistance to aerosol spray penetration. Based on the physical test results and the aerosol penetration test, the spunlace nonwoven fabrics ranked highest for disposable protective garments.

The author wishes to express her gratitude for their support during this project. A special thank you is extended to Cone Mills Corporation for the donation of fabrics. In addition, the author wishes to thank the members of the Wilderness Center Alumni Club, the St. Andrew's Singles Group and her fellow graduate students for providing a break from the work required to complete a graduate program. The author is extremely grateful for the support of her entire family throughout her graduate program. Without the support and encouragement of her parents, Ben and Leola Milikin, this work could not have been completed.