Waterproofing is a way of treating cloth, leather, wood, or other materials so that they will shed water. Many different chemical solutions are used in waterproofing. Nearly all of them work by forming a protective coating over the material to be waterproofed.
Materials which have pores are often soaked in solutions of rubber, linseed oil, paraffin, or some other substance which is itself waterproof. The solution fills the pores. Silicone and fluorocarbon finishes are widely used to waterproof clothing. Building materials are waterproofed with silicones (see Silicone ).
The textile industry uses the most advanced methods of waterproofing. The fibers of cloth may be coated either before or after they are woven. Water-repellent solutions in spray containers are sold for home use.
In 1823, the Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh invented a water-resistant fabric made of cloth and rubber. A raincoat made of his protective material came to be commonly known as a mackintosh.
