Finishing

Treatment goes beyond traditional odour control

3 May 2017

HeiQ will use the occasion of Techtextil in Frankfurt, Germany, on 9–12 May 2017 to launch its latest odou

Chemical suppliers face the challenge of fluorine-free finishing

Chemical suppliers continue to create treatments that can add a variety of functionalities to textiles, but one major theme at Techtextil in 2017 will be the development of alternatives to fluorocarbons as water- and liquid-repellents, reports Editor Nick Butler.

HeiQ and Patagonia team up

6 February 2017

Swiss textile technology innovator HeiQ is teaming-up with outdoor clothing brand Patagonia to explore new options for sustainable textile finishing technologies that achieve breathable and durable

Keeping pace with rapid developments in digital finishing

Industrialists joined with researchers at a two-day event to discuss the latest technologies and issues relating to the digital printing and finishing of textiles. Ian Holme joined them to report for Technical Textiles International.

DyStar acquisition broadens its portfolio of speciality chemicals

1 November 2016

Singapore-based DyStar has completed its acquisition of the speciality chemicals businesses formerly belonging to Emerald Performance Materials LLC of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA.

ITMA Asia + CITME 2016 preview: dyeing and finishing

Nick Butler selects the highlights from those exhibiting finishing machinery at ITMA Asia + CITME 2016.

High technology the key to the future of the textile industry

Ian Holme reports technical textiles were high on the agenda at the 24^th International Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Textile Chemists and Colourists, held in Pardubice, Czech Republic, on 13–16 June 2016.

Chinese Group acquires Dutch chemicals specialist

19 August 2016

A leading Chinese chemical company is to take complete ownership of a Dutch specialist in textile chemicals, Ede-based Tanatex Chemicals.

Sanitized opens technical centre

11 March 2016

A Swiss specialist in antimicrobial additives for textiles and polymers has invested in a new technical centre.

Economical silk finishes

10 March 2016

A patented process that allows for the production of short, fine polymer fibres has found its first use in the creation of a mattress ticking with a comfortable and luxurious silk finish.

Chemtura quits making bromine-based flame retardants

16 October 2015

A major chemical manufacturer has announced it is to stop making and selling flame-retardant (FR)-based agents based on hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD).

Advanced polyester dyeing

17 July 2015

Dyefast is a new process developed by Switzerland’s HeiQ for faster polyester (PES) textile dyeing with lower costs and reduced energy and water consumption.

Alexium targets European markets

7 July 2015

Six customers in the European markets for automotive, workwear and military fabrics, with a combined sales potential of US$15–20 million in the next 12–18 months, are already being

Making the most of resources

11 June 2015

An aid to help textile manufacturers use chemicals efficiently will be launched at the bluesign conference, to be held in St Gallen, Switzerland, on 13–14 July 2015.

Low-water laundry process to be developed for the treatment of leather

26 May 2015

The developer of a patented laundry process based on polymer beads is looking to extend the application of the technology to include the treatment of leather.

Water-repellent based on renewable raw materials

21 May 2015

Singapore-based Huntsman Textile Effects is working with the The Chemours Co FC LLC of Wilmington, Delaware, USA, to introduce a fluorine-free water-repellent that is made using a high proportion o

Partners to explore atmospheric-pressure plasma technology

12 May 2015

A specialist in atmospheric-pressure plasma technology is teaming up with a leading supplier of apparel and footwear to explore the use of innovative finishing technology in a commercial environmen

Nike polo shirt is dyed without water

1 August 2014

Nike of Beaverton, Oregon, USA, has become the first manufacturer of consumer products to introduce a garment (ColorDry polo shirts) dyed using a water-free process (ColorDry) developed in The Netherl

Digital printing directly on polyester

1 June 2014

Inks developed for digital printing directly on polyester (PES) fabric were introduced at the Fespa Digital exhibition held in Munich, Germany, on 20-23 May 2014.

Fluorocarbon to make nonwovens repellent to alcohols

1 April 2014

A fluorocarbon-based additive (Tubiguard RT-F) that can impart alcohol-repellence to medical spunbonds without the need for high-temperature fixation is nominated for an Index14 Excellence in the Nonw

Fluorine-free water-repellent

1 November 2013

A finish that gives textiles a high degree of water-repellence and is fluorine-free was exhibited for the first time at the IFAI Expo in Orlando, Florida, USA (23-25 October 2013).

Nano-scale coatings for hydrophobic, oleophobic and hydrophilic fabrics

1 November 2013

Functional nano-scale coatings to make fabrics either hydrophobic or hydrophilic formed the focus of the stand of Europlasma of Oudenaarde, Belgium, at the Techtextil India exhibition held in Mumbai (

Short-chain fluorocarbon repels water, oil and alcohol

1 September 2013

AGC Chemicals Americas Inc of Exton, Pennsylvania, USA, has developed a treatment that makes poly propylene (PP) nonwovens repellent to water, oil and alcohol without introducing perfluorooctanoic aci

Pulcra Chemicals re-acquires cosmetotextiles business from BASF

1 August 2013

Pulcra Chemicals of Geretsried, Germany, has acquired the cosmetotextiles business (Skintex) from BASF of Ludwigshafen, Germany, bringing it back into the group where it originated.

R'ADYS adopts fluorine-free finishes

1 August 2013

A major manufacturer of outdoor apparel is to use a fluorine-free, durable water-repellent (DWR) finish on its summer collection for 2014.

Range of fluorine-free water repellents from Tanatex Chemicals

1 August 2013

A number of durable water-repellent finishes that are completely free from fluorine are now being offered by Tanatex Chemicals of Ede, The Netherlands.

AGC Chemicals completes switch to carbon-6 chemistry

1 July 2013

A water- and oil-repellent for textiles and nonwovens that is free of detectable levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is now available from AGC Chemicals Americas Inc of Exton, Pennsylvania, USA.

Plasma treatment makes barrier fabrics more breathable

1 June 2013

Atmospheric plasma treatment increases the number of pores and enlarges the pore size of spunbond nonwovens, improving the diffusion of vapour between the filaments in the structure without compromisi

Fluoropolymer treatment for stain-release, and oil- and water-repellence

1 June 2013

A finish that is repellent to oil and water, and gives a fabric a stain-release property in a single treatment is now available from Singapore-based Huntsman Textile Effects.

Finishing products that add value and protect the environment

Manufacturers of additives, finishing chemicals, coatings and adhesives for laminating will attend Techtextil with the message that they are a vital part of the supply chain’s efforts to create additional value in technical textiles, reports Nick Butler.

Surface treatments for polyolefins that do not cause thermal degradation

1 October 2012

A successful demonstration of an emerging technology has opened the way to the treatment of heat-sensitive fibres such as polyolefins.

Clariant invests in safer liquid repellent treatments

1 October 2012

Singapore-based specialist in chemical additives, Clariant is to invest Euro8 million in the production of its liquidrepellent treatments for fabrics at its plant in Gendorf, Germany, where the compan

Duro aims to commercialize flame retardant treatment for polyamide

1 June 2012

One of the largest dyers, printers, finishers and distributors of textiles in the USA, Duro Textiles of Fall River, Massachusetts, has signed a letter of intent to license a flame-retardant (FR) treat

Enzymes demonstrate their worth for processing cotton

1 June 2012

Combinations of bio-based enzymes can eliminate the need for caustic chemicals, and dramatically reduce the amount of water and energy required for the preparation of cotton textiles, a collaborative

Odour-control treatment

1 June 2012

Knitwear, swimwear and intimate apparel will be given odour-control finishes following the announcement of a partnership between a US and an Italian company.

Wide-fabric substrates for digital print

1 April 2012

A German company has developed extra-wide textiles that are suitable as substrates for digital printers using inks that are cured by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Ink for large-format printers

1 April 2012

Sioen Chemicals of Bornem, Belgium, has launched an ink that is cured by the application of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Repelling water and dirt naturally

1 March 2012

A Swiss company has launched a water- and dirtrepellent finish that mimics the way that water fowl use oily secretions to protect their plumage.

Independent testing confirms beneficial effects of reflected infra-red

1 March 2012

The effectiveness of a textile finish that is designed to reflect part of the body's radiation to provide energy to the wearer has been confirmed by tests at an independent laboratory in Germany, acco

Nano-pigments for microfibres

1 December 2011

Nano-pigments that allow microfibres to be coloured prior to their extrusion are now being mass-produced in China.

Tanatex extends its range of finishing chemicals

1 December 2011

Tanatex Chemicals of Ede, The Netherlands, has developed a number of additives for textiles processors, including two for technical applications.

Piece-dyeing machine helps cut costs

1 September 2011

A manufacturer of machinery for piece-dyeing, Alliance Machines Textiles of Les Echets-Miribel, France is to unveil a new machine, Rotora, which the company says continuously turns the beam, leading t

Slitting, rewinding, ultrasonic cutting and industrial rollers

1 September 2011

In November 2010, the Spoolex Group from Roche la Moliere, France, merged with its three subsidiaries (Calemard, Decoup+ and Roll Concept) to form a single company with three brands:

Drying technologies that save users energy and costs

1 September 2011

Leonberg-based Bruckner Trockentechnik GmbH & Co KG cites competition from fabric manufacturers in low-wage economies, the need to ensure high-quality products, and the pressures of high energy co

Centrifuges for drying

1 September 2011

After wet treatments (such as bleaching, dyeing and washing), the most economical way to pre-dry and, in certain cases, dry textiles is centrifugal extraction, according to Rousselet-Robatel of Annona

Coating, compacting and drying

1 September 2011

The Santex group of companies (which specializes in the design and manufacture of machinery for textile finishing, coating and lamination, composites and reinforced plastics) is to exhibit three new m

Double-roller unit for impregnation

1 September 2011

Trutzschler Nonwovens of Egelsbach, Germany, has developed a double-roller unit featuring a re-designed padder that offers fast application of chemicals, either in liquid form or as a foam.

Collaboration leads to a multifunctional textile treatment for furnishings

1 July 2011

Two US companies have collaborated to create a textile finish for furnishings that is stain-resistant, and oil- and water-repellent, as well as being anti-microbial (so preventing mould, mildew and od

Ink-jet printing developed for functional coatings of textiles

1 March 2011

A finishing composition specifically tailored for depositing functional particles to a textile from a doton-demand inkjet printer has been revealed by TenCate Advanced Textiles of Nijverdal, The Nethe

Improved microcapsules

1 February 2011

A microcapsule capable of containing a hydrophobic liquid or wax is the subject of International Patent Publication WO 2008/058868.

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Upcoming Events

Forthcoming events list

1 May 2024

Please find below the list of forthcoming conferences and exhibitions on technical textiles and nonwovens.

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Chemical suppliers face the challenge of fluorine-free finishing

Keeping pace with rapid developments in digital finishing

ITMA Asia + CITME 2016 preview: dyeing and finishing

High technology the key to the future of the textile industry

Finishing products that add value and protect the environment