Keeping dry in the fall
Wind, rain, and heavy clouds are all part of the fall so a functional rain jacket is the ideal way to protect ourselves from the elements. Modern additives from Evonik for functional finishing of textiles make sure rainwear is water-repellent so it keeps us dry.
Long dark evenings and bad weather can make going out unappealing in the fall. Yet the season also has its upside. Woods and forests can be glorious as the leaves change color, inviting us to take long walks in the fresh air. Naturally, a rain jacket is a must.
To keep us clean and dry, jackets should ward off rain and dirt. Evonik markets a wide range of additives for the textile industry, including TEGOTEX® RT to enhance the soil and water repellency of many types of fabric.
“Our TEGOTEX® RT product line contributes to sustainability and resource efficiency because it is a substitute for environmentally problematic fluorocarbon polymers,” says Lisa Roessler, who heads Evonik's Agro & Functional Specialties product line. To improve sustainability, the textile industry is committed to improving its environmental performance through the ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Compounds) program. Evonik products are less harmful to the environment than conventional fluorocarbon technology because they are not bioaccumulative and do not persist in the environment. Conventional fluorocarbon substances have very poor biodegradability and accumulate in organisms and thus in the food chain. Besides, they are toxic to humans and organisms in the environment.
Even though our functional jacket has kept us dry during our walk, it may have got very dirty. TEGOTEX® RT helps make sure fabrics are easy to clean, normally without washing. If the jacket is particularly dirty, it can be washed without any significant reduction in its soil and water repellency. After a normal cycle in a washing machine, many functional jackets are less resistant and water-repellent than before.
TEGOTEX® RT 2033 and TEGOTEX® RT 2040 are tailor-made for formulations for the textile industry. They are suitable for use on cotton as well as manmade fibers and fabrics. In addition, they give synthetics an exceptionally soft, fluffy consistency. Thanks to their unique, patented structure comprising a modified siloxane, both products give functional textiles soil- and water-repellent properties without using perfluorinated hydrocarbons.
Fluorinated polymers have been used for more than 70 years to produce repellent effects. Since they are bioaccumulative and accumulate in the food chain, they are subject to growing criticism from environmental associations and regulatory authorities.
Information:
PFOA is a “persistent substance” because it never degrades in the environment. This year, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has largely banned the use of PFOA.
Meet our experts until October 29, 2021 at Textile Innovation Week virtual trade show!
