A study of the effects of abrasion treatment on the barrier properties of protective nonwoven fabrics established changes in surface wetting, liquid retention, and liquid penetration resulting from moderate and severe abrasion, flat and flat/flex abrasion, and dry and wet abrasion of Tyvek fabric, hydroentangled cotton with a fluorochemical finish based on fluorinated polyurethane, hydroentangled cotton laminated with a microporous film, laminated polypropylene/microporous film/cotton/mmelt blown polypropylene, spun bonded polypropylene nonwoven fabric laminated with a melt blown polypropylene microporous film, and a thermally point bonded triaminate of spun bonded/melt blown/spun bonded polypropylene. Abrasion treatments increased the surface wetting rate and liquid penetration of fabrics, but did not affect liquid retention. The hydroentangled cotton fabric treated with a fluorochemical finish and the cotton and microporous film fabric exhibited excellent liquid barrier performance before and after abrasion. 24 refs.