With the accelerated pace of people’s lives, outdoor activities have become the ultimate place for people to relax. People leave the city and go hiking, camping, biking, golfing, or fishing to unwind from the work week.
This development has brought a new customer type to the textile industry: outdoor people who value comfort . They want outdoor products that are stylish, breathable, soft and most importantly: waterproof.
This creates a dilemma because the most effective waterproofing agents are still fluorocarbon-based; Fluorocarbons produce harmful byproducts PFOA and PFOS.
To what extent have chemists developed fluorocarbon-free waterproofing agents? Can it meet the highest requirements of customers?
The evolution of waterproofing agents
Learn about the evolution of waterproofing agents, You’ll find that surface tension is always the key.
As long as the surface tension of the textile fiber is lower than the surface tension of water, the fabric will not wet, thus achieving the water-repellent effect.
In the past, people used wax or fish oil to achieve this effect. Later, manufacturers switched to modified paraffin, which worked better even though the active ingredient was still oil-based.
It wasn’t until a few decades ago that chemists made a breakthrough by developing fluorocarbons: perfluorocarbon chains. They turn this compound into an emulsion so it can be used as an additive.
When applied to textiles, this fluorocarbon emulsion reduces the surface tension of the fibers, creating a highly effective fluorine barrier that repels water, chemicals and grease.
Application of fluorocarbons in the textile industry
Fluorocarbon-based waterproofing agents are often used in industrial textiles and work clothes (such as those found in factories) because fluorocarbon walls are so strong that they can even repel oils and chemicals. or clothing used in adverse weather conditions.
But this is not the only use. Because fluorocarbon is very durable and remains waterproof even after many washes, consumers are also willing to Spend a lot of money on a stylish jacket like this.
Obviously, the problem with fluorocarbons is not their effectiveness. The real problem lies in its two by-products, PFOS and PFOA, both of which are PBT (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic), which sounds very problematic.
Manufacturers cannot produce fluorocarbons without producing PFOS and PFOA, which means that fluorocarbon waterproofing agents are always bad for the environment.
From C8 to C6
The good news is, there is a way The negative effects of fluorocarbons can be minimized by reducing the fluorocarbon chain from C8 to C6.
This alternative does not have exactly the same properties as the original fluorocarbons, but the byproducts are much less persistent and bioaccumulative, making them less harmful.
Many chemical companies, including Drag Chemical, have stopped using C8 entirely and have begun using C6 fluorocarbons exclusively. Furthermore, government organizations around the world are strongly recommending that manufacturers stop using C8, which means that in the long term, the chemical community will have to find alternatives anyway.
DWR: fluorocarbon-free waterproofing agent
In the search for fluorocarbon-free waterproofing agents, people are recalling the era before fluorocarbons. Chemists are back in the lab working on new solutions based on hydrophobic polymers.
These so-called DWRs (durable water repellents) are not oil or chemical repellent, making them less suitable for use in workwear, but are ideal for environmentally friendly and waterproof outdoor clothing.
At present, both C6 fluorocarbon and fluorine-free waterproofing agents are used by domestic and foreign companies. The key depends on the requirements for the product, because sometimes the oil resistance is Requirements, such as work clothes.
However, in most other cases, we should apply fluorine-free waterproofing agents. </p
