Abstract: A waterborne hydrophobic barrier coating formulation comprising a blend of a poly(vinyl acetate) emulsion and a paraffin wax emulsion or a vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) polymer emulsion and a paraffin wax emulsion which, when applied to a substrate, such as a nonwoven web, an absorbent pad, or a textile, and dried, has a hydrostatic head barrier sufficient to prevent passage of fluids but allow passage of water vapor through it. A multi-layer material comprising at least one layer of a nonwoven web, an absorbent pad, or a textile, and at least one layer of a blend of a poly(vinyl acetate) emulsion and a paraffin wax emulsion or a VAE polymer emulsion and paraffin wax emulsion. The emulsion blend, after drying, has a hydrostatic head barrier sufficient to prevent passage of fluids through it but allow passage of water vapor.