Ecological waterrepellence of the future/Bionic
Finish Eco.
presented at Performance Days
Munich, Thursday 18th November 2010 at 15h30
Munich, Friday 19th November 2010 at 15h30
By Gunther Duschek, Rudolf Group
Dr. Gunther Duschek is the leader of the global Rudolf Group's R&D centre near Munich. The globally acting group has been researching, developing and producing technical solutions for the sectors textile, leather and construction for 82 years. Mr Duschek and his team develop, amongst other things, environmentally friendly solutions in the field of water and oil repellency.
The fluorocarbons which are nowadays used for the high-performance waterproofing of textiles are safe and clean, but they are still perceived as a possible source of perfluorinated tensides (PFT) in the public discussion. However, by 2015, the fluorocarbon products known so far will be replaced by new C6-based ones; many companies have already started this change. Some of the newly developed C6 -products are outstanding alternatives to the fluorocarbons used so far, without having to accept their environmentally related disadvantages. However, the production of such products is energy-intensive, and they too are a possible source of durable substances that are not biodegradable. Their use should, therefore, be focused on necessary sectors, such as high oil and blood repellency requirements and the breathability connected therewith.
For the leisure and outdoor sector, good water repellency is of primary importance and, thus, a lot of brands and manufacturers of this sector have changed their point of view in the past few years. Some renowned companies have already recognized the signs of the times and have changed entire collections to more biologically sustainable, fluorine-free systems such as BIONIC-FINISH ECO. These companies are known for their high environmental awareness and, thus, set clear standards without having to accept disadvantages with regard to performance. Thus high performance and environmental protection are no longer irreconcilable opposites...
Questions to the speaker & discussion