Covestro and Trans-Textil have collaborated to create a textile coating made of breathable water-based synthetic materials.
Dubbed Aquair, the coated textiles are also waterproof and adaptable to many product categories, the companies said, including footwear and apparel.
“The microporous structure of the synthetics is permeable to water vapor and provides the greatest possible comfort in combination with individually selected textiles,” Matthias Krings, managing director of Trans-Textil, said. “In combination with other functional layers, products created on this basis are also characterized by their considerable freedom of design in terms of structure, coloring and technical properties.”
Aquair is suitable for shoe components; leisure, sports and outdoor clothing; bags and accessories, and upholstery and furniture. As a shoe component designed to enhance comfort, the high water vapor permeability of Aquair contributes to the active regulation of the microclimate inside the shoe. Its breathability is preserved even in combination with a waterproof functional membrane system, which Trans-Textil also offers as an option for purely water-based products.
In apparel, the washable technology ensures freedom of movement in due to its high degree of elasticity. As covers for furniture, the products score high for their abrasion resistance and for reduced perspiration in the seat and backrest areas, while offering stain resistance and easy care.
“The polyurethane coating is particularly abrasion-resistant and breathable, but in combination with membrane systems from Trans-Textil, it can also be made both waterproof and windproof,” Thomas Michaelis, expert for coated textiles at Covestro, said. “It is built on our water-based and sustainable Insqin technology, which also means that the production of coated textiles requires up to 95 percent less water and 50 percent less energy than previous processes based on solvents.’
As a result, the technology was awarded the Solar Impulse Efficient Solutions label as an economically viable and environmentally friendly solution. This combination of properties combined with Trans-Textil’s extensive portfolio of membrane systems, textile substrates and technologies provides customers with a wide range of design options, Covestro noted.
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Options include embossed designs in classic or exotic leather looks, textile structures or technical patterns, flexible coloring and an array of finishes for woven, knitted or non-woven fabrics.
In combination with Trans-Textil’s technologies, the water-based and solvent-free polyurethane dispersions of the Impranil and Impraperm ranges developed by Covestro enable breathable properties with a level of comfort and functionality that far exceeds the standard of coated textiles, the company said. Water-repellent properties are already integrated into the materials, meaning that no additional finishing with harmful substances such as perfluorinated and polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs) is required.
In addition, both partners have developed solvent-free seam sealing tapes for all common laminate types. Topaz tapes provide reliable impermeability and enable long-lasting use of high-quality functional materials for shoe laminates, workwear, outerwear, leisurewear and sportswear, as well as in technical garments. The tapes can be customized and are designed for industrial washing at up to 60 degrees Celsius.