DWR PFC FREE

RUCO®-DRY ECO PLUS is a high performance water repellent textile finishing agent made from non-fluorinated and renewable materials. RUCO®-DRY ECO PLUS is suitable for all types of fibres and protects finished textile goods from challenging rain conditions, mechanical stress and various household stains. Textiles finished with RUCO®-DRY ECO PLUS can be branded BIONIC-FINISH® ECO. Performance highlights – superior water repellency on natural fibres, synthetics and blends providing long-lasting protection from rain and aqueous stains – excellent resistance to home laundering allowing 30x washes and more – breathability of fabrics is retained thus providing comfortable wear of finished articles – outstanding abrasion resistance turning the water repellent finish suitable for most challenging technical applications – high stability and processability of finished goods including excellent lamination properties for post-processing of finished fabrics – compatible with commonly used wetting agents, fillers and crosslinking agents – free of halogenated compounds and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO)

Zelan™ R3 is a durable water repellent treatment for fabrics, textiles, and non-wovens. It is manufactured with renewably sourced, non-fluorinated, plant-based material that can be replenished naturally over time. Features • Excellent water repellency on natural fibers, synthetic blends, and synthetic fibers, providing protection from rain and water-based stains • High durability to home laundering, allowing for extended water repellent protection after multiple washes • Breathability of fabrics will be maintained, making them comfortable to wear • Good runnability, allowing for un-interrupted production process • Compatible with commonly used finishing auxiliaries, including wetting agents and extenders • ~60% renewable content (ASTM D6866-12) and recognized as a USDA-certified bio-based product • Not made with alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEO) • bluesign® approved, meeting the strict ecological and toxicological requirements of the bluesign® criteria

In ten years, we've done a lot of heavy lifting in fabric innovation. When we learned about the potential negative impact of PFCs, on people and the environment, our path was clear: find an effective PFC-Free DWR solution. 

What Are PFCs?

A perfluorinated compound per - or polyfluoroalkyl chemical are all completely man-made chemicals commonly used in DWR (durable water repellent) coatings and waterproof membranes. These fluorochemicals have been used for some time to give clothing water and stain-resistant properties. There are many sources of PFCs within the clothing sector but over half of the most hazardous PFC chemicals are used for weatherproof clothing.

Once released into the environment PFCs break down very slowly; they can remain in the environment for many years after their release and are dispersed over the entire globe. They can affect both the wearer of the garment and the environment when it washes or rubs off jackets. It has accumulated in measurable levels in snow, ice, and water around the world. For some PFCs there is evidence that they cause harm to reproduction, promotes the growth of tumors and affects the hormone system. PFCs are on the globally-recognized Restricted Substances Lists.

All of our PFC-free DWR chemistries are screened by accredited third party organizations such as Bluesign, ZDHC, Oeko-tex Standard 100, and globally-recognized Restricted Substances Lists to ensure safety for mill and factory workers, for APEX customers, and for the environment. Through industry-standard performance testing, we’ve found that water repellency for our PFC-free DWR is comparable to traditional iterations and our PFC-free DWR has since become the industry standard for healthy, effective waterproofing.

Durable water repellent is a coating added to substrate to make them water-resistant (hydrophobic) and maintain it breathability. After coating on surface, it increases the liquid contact angle of the substrate. This suspends the liquids, forming them into round droplets.

Most hydrophobic coatings consist of two main ingredients; an active molecule that provides the water-repellency and a binder. The resulting surface of these coatings usually consists of a very specific geometry made out of microscopic pillars. Water droplets perch on the top of these pillars and create air pockets beneath, resulting in the water rolling off the surface easily.