First fluorocarbon-free functional clothing introduced

28 Jul '08

3 min read

In close collaboration with Sympatex Technologies Rudolf Chemie, the specialist for bionic textile finishing, has developed the first fluorocarbon-free DWR treatment for textiles.

With BIONIC FINISH ECO and environmentally-friendly Sympatex products, functional clothing can now completely do without elements containing fluorocarbon. The perfect example: the new Air 37°C jacket from the Swedish outdoor experts at Lundhags.

The fluorocarbon-free BIONIC FINISH ECO has now achieved the breakthrough in terms of hydrophobic treatment for sustainable functional clothing. The DWR treatment protects clothing from dirt and moisture as a sheer coating. The environmentally-friendly BIONIC FINISH EOC is simultaneously water- and dirt-repellant, free from organic halogens and biologically degradable.

Lundhags recognized the potential of BIONIC FINISH ECO in combination with Sympatex membranes. The Swedes have always stood up for environmental protection and sustainability for functional clothing. With the prototype of the Air 37°C jacket, Lundhags is now presenting a fluorocarbon-free soft shell, which makes no compromises in terms of performance, quality and design. The jacket protects its wearer from adverse weather, guarantees perfect wearing comfort and is guaranteed to be environmentally-friendly at the same time.

Besides environmental compatibility, BIONIC FINISH ECO offers a variety of other advantages: Thanks to the new extremely wear-resistant structure, the DWR treatment offers previously-unknown durability. As a result, clothing with BIONIC FINISH ECO doesn't have to be ironed after washing in order to refresh its effectiveness. Breathability is also retained, since the finish does not contain paraffin. BIONIC FINISH ECO meets all requirements that demanding customers place on high-quality DWR treatment.

Components containing fluorocarbon have been used in the textile industry for more than 30 years. Today they are considered to be potentially harmful for the environment. Before BIONIC FINISH ECO, research had not come up with an alternative – the necessary compromises with regard to the functionality of clothing were too great.

Bionic, the combination of biology and technology, has made the innovative BIONIC FINISH ECO possible. The branch structure in treetops, which thereby achieve a greater density and surface areas for their foliage, served as a model. BIONIC FINISH ECO is composed of star-shaped, hyper-branched polymers (so-called dendrimers). They enormously improve the water-repellant effect, are highly efficient and tend to create their own form of organization and build up crystalline structures at the nano level, due to their netlike structure.

This invisible flexible structure is water-repellant, highly wear-resistant and holds up under washing. The water-repellant effect of this product could only be obtained using fluorine-based polymers up until now.

The renowned RWTH Aachen affirmed the bionic principle of self organisation of BIONIC FINISH ECO. The Austrian textile specialist VOACK contributed practical tests and enabled the combination of BIONIC FINISH ECO and environmentally-friendly Sympatex laminates.

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