The shift to fluorine-free durable water repellents (DWRs) for weatherproof and stain resistant fabrics is gaining momentum worldwide as brands seek to meet consumer demand and stay ahead of looming regulatory change. But the transition to fluorine-free “C0” technologies from previous solutions based on perfluorochemicals (PFASs) is not without its challenges.
While several proven PFAS-free technologies based on various chemistries are now available, a major issue is that no single PFAS alternative is suitable for all applications. Mills cannot simply upgrade to a single PFAS-free solution across all of their product lines; each alternative has different attributes and different production and processing impacts.
“The key is to adopt a ‘fit-for-purpose’ approach,” says Georg Lang, Market Segment Director Finishing, Archroma. “This means being very clear about the specific functionality required for the intended end use and understanding how each of the different PFAS-free alternatives works in order to deliver the right results with the right production parameters.”
At a minimum, brands that want to introduce or enhance products with PFAS-free water repellence have to consider the following:
A further complication is how the PFAS-free product behaves in production. The new DWR treatment options can have unintended consequences when used without proper technical expertise – from adhesion issues to bonding weakness, seam slippage and chalk marks. Mills will have to grapple with challenges like color fastness, shade consistency and the potential for yellowing, and, at the same time, focus on optimum fabric preparation to minimize potential negative impacts from fiber processing or dyeing-auxiliary residue.
Making the right choice means balancing performance and cost with the most appropriate chemistry, recipe and application process. And this requires extensive production experience and expert technical support, as well as deep knowledge of the whole range of PFAS-free DWR alternatives.
“With the coming together of Archroma and Huntsman Textile Effects in early 2023, Archroma now has the industry’s best technical team, backed by the most extensive portfolio of C0 DWRs,” Georg explains.
“We bring expertise in the transition to C0 DWRs to more than 100 markets worldwide. Our teams work with mills as trusted partners, bringing extensive knowledge and skill to customize solutions meet our customers’ requirements from a cost and sustainability perspective.”
One of the strengths of the Archroma DWR portfolio is its breadth. This enables brands to adopt the right chemistry for a specific textile end-use—from tents and umbrellas to ski wear and school uniforms—while also optimizing production, achieving compliance and meeting customer expectations.
“Looking ahead, Archroma will continue to invest in developing, manufacturing, marketing and supporting new DWR solutions that are safe to use, wear and release. In partnership with other industry leaders like Chemours, we will continue to seek new ways to improve the environmental footprint of our DWR products while maintaining the high level of durability and technical performance that brands and their customers expect,” Georg concludes.
* Below limits of detection according to industry standard test methods.