Sep 27 2008
At the SEPAWA Congress 2008, WACKER SILICONES will be presenting a silicone emulsion which enables the manufacture of highly effective water-based silicone impregnants.
Formulations based on the silicone emulsion WACKER® HC 303 are added to the washing machine and help to restore the factory impregnation significantly
The microemulsion can be used for various household care applications and imparts a markedly hydrophobic, e.g. water-repellent surface not only to textiles, but also to leather, wood and cork. The 55th SEPAWA Congress will be held from October 15-17 in Würzburg, Germany.
Water-based textile-impregnating agents are better for the environ-ment, but have mostly failed to match the efficacy of solvent-based products. The reason for the relatively poor hydrophobic effect of this system is the reliance on emulsifiers. While emulsifiers are necessary for stabilizing aqueous emulsions, their surface activity yields an undesirable side-effect: during film formation, the emulsifier mole-cules accumulate at the interfaces between the coalescing polymer or wax particles, forming hydrophilic microchannels which allow water to diffuse right through to the substrate's surface.
This problem was solved with WACKER® HC 303. The silicone emulsion is a clear, low-viscosity oil-in-water microemulsion. Follow-ing application to the impregnating surface, a silicone film forms at room temperature and bonds to the substrate. Thus, the product provides an uncompromised silicone film that completely repels water and other aqueous liquids.
The silicone emulsion is colorless and odorless and can be easily processed into finished impregnants. The results of the technical tests indicate that WACKER® HC 303 is ideal for restoring the factory impregnation of textiles. It imparts a highly hydrophobic surface finish that completely repels water and aqueous liquids such as red wine, coffee and fruit juice.
WACKER® HC 303 can serve as a basis for developing highly effec-tive, water-based impregnating agents for consumers and industrial and institutional users. Impregnations based on the product can be added during the washing machine’s rinse cycle instead of a softener in order refresh the existing impregnation. Typical applications are the reimpregnation of outdoor clothing, neckties, tablecloths, work clothes, laboratory coats and uniforms.
WACKER® HC 303 can serve as a basis for developing highly effec-tive, water-based impregnating agents for consumers and industrial and institutional users. Impregnations based on the product can be added during the washing machine’s rinse cycle instead of a softener in order refresh the existing impregnation. Typical applications are the reimpregnation of outdoor clothing, neckties, tablecloths, work clothes, laboratory coats and uniforms.