SHANGHAI — August 31, 2016 — Covestro announced today at the All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE) a series of breakthroughs in its INSQIN® waterborne polyurethane (PU) technology and Impranil® polyurethane dispersion products. Collectively, the advancements are set to further enhance the applicability of waterborne PU as a sustainable technology in the textile industry.
Each year around the world, more than 4 billion square meters of PU-coated fabric are produced. China, as the epicenter of global manufacturing, manufactures 90 percent of this material. As a result, the local ecosystems are under heavy strain, and the local textile industry is facing multiple environmental challenges.
“We continuously work with Chinese PU textile manufacturers to improve industry sustainability as sought by brand owners, end consumers, and the Chinese Government, especially with the roll-out of the amended Environmental Protection Law in 2015,” said Nick Smith, global head of Textile Coatings at Covestro.
“Specifically, Covestro is helping companies meet strict performance and effect requirements from the market while reducing manufacturing cost and maximizing production flexibility. The key to success in this respect is the combination of the development of new products and new application technology, as well as our commitment and continuous investment,” Smith added.
INSQIN base improves manufacturing efficiency and offers softness
INSQIN base is a new technology that enables PU base, a key intermediate material for the PU textile industry, to be manufactured using waterborne PU. It was developed with a particular focus on achieving the performance, especially the softness, of solvent-based materials. It can be adapted to multiple applications, including garments, bags, footwear and furniture.
Furthermore, INSQIN base reduces manufacturing cost. It can be embossed directly after production and thus removes the need for use of release paper to bring in material effects. It can also utilize existing manufacturing lines and thus does not necessitate significant investment from manufacturers.
New Impranil products enable new effect and performance in waterborne PU
Impranil CIL: a new PU dispersion for textile coatings, especially developed to enable the production of fine nubuck material, a popular effect that until now has posed a significant challenge for waterborne chemistry.
Impranil DLI: a new PU dispersion for textile coatings that enables excellent wrinkle or fold recovery in the coated material, an important performance criterion in some applications.
Impranil eco product series marks the next leap in sustainability
First introduced in 2015 but shown for the first time at ACLE, Impranil eco is a new range of waterborne, bio-based polyurethane dispersions. With a renewable content that reaches as high as 65 percent, this product class contributes to a further reduction of CO2 emissions, thus further improving the sustainability of waterborne PU. The first products in the series have been designed for applications on fashion apparel, accessory and footwear, and more products are being developed for other uses.
In addition to its new product and technology offerings, Covestro also sees successful expansion of the INSQIN Partner Manufacturer Program. Present at the pavilion are three partner manufacturers, each leading manufacturers in different fields: Duksung Co., Ltd., Kunshan Xiefu New Material Co., Ltd., and Guangdong Jinshan New Material Technology Co..
Established in July 2015, the INSQIN® Partner Manufacturer Program connects manufacturers and brand owners across the PU-coated fabric supply chain. Under the Program, Covestro links brands with partner manufacturers that are capable of efficiently delivering innovative materials and sustainability best practices.
During ACLE, visitors will be presented with the opportunity to experience samples produced with the new technologies, as well as learn the latest about the INSQIN Partner Manufacturer Program and from the partner manufacturers. Covestro’s pavilion is located at Booth E11 of Hall E3.
Posted September 21, 2016
Source: Covestro