ZURICH – With many countries in the world looking at phasing out the use of long-chain PFASs in clothing products due to environmental concerns, Swiss tech business, HeiQ, has launched new fluorocarbon-free (PFC-free) products in its HeiQ Eco Dry product family. As well as providing durable water repellence (DWR) properties, the newly introduced products are durable to dry cleaning – offering another example of how the market for none-PFC alternatives continues to innovate. The latest breakthrough with dry cleaning durability makes the DWR suitable to fashion coats and jackets made of premium fibres such as silk and wool – a notable breakthrough in this space.
There is ongoing debate around the use of PFCs to provide water, stain and oil resistance properties to garments, with research suggesting long-chain PFASs are highly persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic. Meanwhile, researchers earlier this year found that the use of potentially toxic chemicals such as PFCs in outdoor clothing is largely unnecessary. Researchers compared fluorinated chemicals, which provide water, oil and stain repellency for outdoor clothing, with non-fluorinated alternatives. They found that the best non-fluorinated durable water repellents have water repellency as good as fluorinated polymers – and that water repellency and durability are most important to consumers of outdoor clothing.
HeiQ Eco Dry is a family of innovative, PFC-free water repellent textile technologies that provide protection against water and water-based stains. By adding new products to the range, HeiQ now has a broad range of DWR solutions for outdoor apparel, footwear and fashion markets.
Launched in 2013, HeiQ Eco Dry was one of the pioneers in PFC-free DWR textile treatments. “The new PFC-free DWR treatments have been engineered specifically to meet industry challenges and maintain excellent hydrophobic properties after multiple dry cleanings,” said Walter Nassl, chief technology officer at HeiQ. “We continue to innovate different technologies of HeiQ Eco Dry to allow even more high-quality, durable and sustainable products in the market.”