Water Repellency highly possible without fluorine

Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ, says repellency is all about outdoor textiles staying clean and dry. Centonze was a presenter Oct. 18 at the IFAI 2016 Expo in Charlotte, N.C.

Because consumers are beginning to perceive fluorine-based garments as negatively affecting the environment, the textile industry continues to explore fluorine-free options. He adds, “Nature can teach us a lot about water repellency.” The structures of a tree leaf and a butterfly wing present excellent examples of water repellency.

Centonze presented a grid that contrasts the features of fluorine C6 vs fluorine C8, highlighting the beneficial qualities of each application:

v= performance may vary significantly between different products in the category