Preserving Protective Fabric Comfort Without PFAS

Mr. Frank Keohan, Lab Manager for Organic Dyes and Pigments LLC (ORCO), will be presenting a paper titled “Preserving Protective Fabric Comfort Without PFAS” at the American Association of Textile Colorists and Dyers (AATCC) International Summit, October 4-6, Wilmington, North Carolina.

Frank’s paper will be presented on Monday, October 1, during the “Haptics/Comfort” Session, scheduled for 10:30 AM – 12-00 PM

A full copy of the presentation will be available AFTER the Summit.

 

Finishing textiles with liquid repellents has been used for many years to enhance their protective properties.  Repellents are formulated with hydrocarbons, silicones and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to provide fiber surface repellency.  The comfort and health related benefits afforded to wearers of garments manufactured from PFAS-treated textiles include, thermal regulation, dryness, stain resistance, and biological fluid resistance.  PFAS-based repellents are rapidly being regulated out of existence for many industrial applications, including fabric finishes. 

Replacements for PFAS repellents have been developed that provide some of the desired properties. Their application often requires process variation from standard fluorochemical repellents.  The choice of fluorine-free product and application conditions are critical for obtaining the maximum performance from these new PFAS-replacement technologies.  This is especially true for critical applications in medical, recreational and outdoor textile applications.  This presentation will discuss how repellent –finished fabric comfort and value can be preserved without PFAS.

The AATCC International Summit brings together industry professionals, researchers, and innovators for an engaging experience featuring educational presentations, networking opportunities, and the latest advancements in textile technology in the exhibitor showroom.

Frank, an acknowledged in the area of PFAS Free Water Repellent Chemistry, has previously presented a paper on PFAS free related topics at the 2024 Advanced Textile EXPO, titled “Textile Finishing Options Amid Tightening PFAS Restrictions”.  You can download that paper here.