Clariant, a leader in specialty chemicals, presents advanced solutions for technical textiles at Techtextil 2013, under a slogan ‘effects that perform and chemistry that cares’.

The company will focus on three key areas – repellence & release, flame retardancy, and stability & resistance with the new solutions formulated to promote processes and products with improved environmental benefits for technical textiles.

Repellency and Release

Nuva N C6-based fluorochemicals, first introduced in 2006, support the gradual switch away from traditional long-chain fluorotelomer products which, as an unintended manufacturing by-product,  may contain PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) at trace levels.

Designed to achieve great stain management properties, the product is easy to handle in processing, imparting long-lasting soil repellency and release effects, while being non-sensitive in respect of its compatibility to other finishing chemicals. Nuva N also has a positive effect on the abrasion resistance and tear strength demanded of many materials in the technical textiles field.

Another Clariant product, new fluorine-free water repellency solution Arkophob FFR, combines both  fluorine-free chemistry and long-lasting water repellency, and it is said to be an efficient alternative to conventional fluorocarbon-based repellency products.

Extensive testing by Clariant experts of Arkophob FFR showed its high level of performance. The agent also meets the bluesign criteria and, when correctly used, also meets the OekoTex 2 standard.

Flame Retardancy

Clariant presents its Pekoflam flame retardants to be used in sectors such as fire service, military, home textiles and construction and suitable for those working in extreme environments and weather.

The new product range aims at helping customers to face today’s ecological challenges and fulfil ever stricter safety regulations.

Clariant’s halogen-free Pekoflam range is primarily based on phosphorous chemistry. In the development of synergistic additives to achieve broad application properties comparable to existing halogen-based products, chemical know-how proved as important as the deeper understanding of flame retardant physics and related thermodynamics.

Pekoflam STC and Pekoflam HFC are new coating additives displaying high efficiency and an improved ecological profile when compared to nitrogen and/or phosphorous based commodity chemicals.

Stability and Resistance

Clariant’s polymer dispersions, highly valued by technical textile finishers, now include Appretan E range of ultra-low formaldehyde polymer dispersions that has been formulated to provide flexibility, strength, stability and resistance in textile and nonwoven applications.

Crosslinking is used to reinforce the dimensional web created by the polymer, under specific conditions of temperature and acidic catalysis, to provide a range of benefits. In its constant efforts to reduce formaldehyde, Clariant has especially focused on developing self-crosslinking products that offer low formaldehyde solutions and also do not need to be used with melamine resins - which can be a source of free formaldehyde.

In addition to a general improvement in properties, the key performance attributes of Appretan E self-crosslinking dispersion are its high resistance to water, solvents, alcohol and elevated temperature.

For the production of textiles that are required to comply with very strict eco-toxicological regulations, Clariant has also developed Appretan NF formaldehyde-free dispersions.

Clariant

“Clariant’s commitment to establishing long-lasting customer relationships, backed by extensive customer service and support, ensures we deliver products that not only advance the performance of technical textiles with measurable benefits, but also assist producers in adopting more sustainable operations and processes,” says Jochen Schmidt, head of Technical Service EMEA, Textile Chemicals Business Unit, Clariant.

The system supplier of choice for textile mills and nonwoven manufacturers in the area of technical textiles, Clariant demonstrated its solution-oriented approach to business by teaming up with the partners such as its own Masterbatches business unit or Sanitized AG.

Clariant’s masterbatch specialists will share their expertise about adding colour and functionality to carpets, clothing, automotive interiors, nonwovens and artificial turf. Additive masterbatches, in particular, can be used to add durability, UV stability or flame retardancy, whilst always keeping in sight safety and environmental compliance requirements.

www.clariant.com