Origin And Key Applications of Room Temperature Fluorine-free Waterproofing Agents

In recent years, fluorine-free waterproofing has become increasingly popular in the industry. However, those who have actually used it know that most water-based fluorine-free waterproofing agents require drying temperatures of 150℃ or even higher to achieve the desired effect. Insufficient temperature results in poor film formation and a significant drop in water repellency. This high-temperature process also presents numerous challenges in terms of energy consumption, equipment, and fabric compatibility.

While traditional solvent-based fluorine-free waterproofing agents are easy to form films, their flammability, strong odor, and health risks prevent large-scale production, thus hindering widespread adoption.

Because of these limitations, Sylic's R&D team turned their attention back to the film-forming mechanism, developing a new system that can form waterproof films at low temperatures or even room temperature. Simply put, this involves introducing a low-temperature film-forming monomer into the fluorine-free waterproofing system, combined with our proprietary polymerization process, allowing the polymer to form a film on the fabric surface without requiring high temperatures. This means that many fabrics that previously required high temperatures can now achieve effective results at room temperature or even low temperatures.

Several key applicable process scenarios:

1. Dyeing and finishing plant liquid coating process

Suitable for various fluorine-free waterproof finishing processes, especially for materials with poor heat resistance such as SMS and paper.

Fabrics that previously required drying at 170℃ can now be dried at temperatures below 130℃, resulting in significant energy savings and emission reductions.

2. Spray-on waterproofing

Suitable for spray coating applications on garments, shoe materials, webbing, etc.

The biggest advantage of this system is that it dries naturally at room temperature, contains no solvents, and has no odor. It can directly replace solvent-based systems and is currently a highly sought-after environmentally friendly solution by brands.

3. Washing plant finishing

For example, finishing garments, cut pieces, and shoe materials, as well as waterproofing treatments for household cleaning products.

The process is simplified and easier for operators to learn.

Two Product Options and Their Differences

Product	Handle	Water Repellency / Wash Durability	Stain / Oil Resistance	Application
FU5234	Firmer	Good	Strongest (incl. vegetable oils)	Pad / Spray / Wash
FU5234S	Softer	Better water repellency & wash durability	Slightly weaker than 5234	Pad / Spray / Wash

Room temperature fluorine-free waterproofing agents are available in FU5234 and FU5234S for various applications.

In short:

• If your priority is a soft hand feel with strong water repellency and wash durability, choose FU5234S.

• If you need better stain and oil resistance with a firmer surface, go with FU5234.

Low-temperature drying or air-drying

Key Performance Highlights

Room-temperature water repellency (AATCC 22)

FU5234S shows significantly better water repellency on fabrics such as polyester pongee and Taslan when compared with typical fluorine-free products—especially under room-temperature air-drying conditions.

Isopropyl alcohol resistance (AATCC 193)

Water/IPA (Volume Ratio)	Surface Tension	Grade
98：2	59	1
95：5	50	2
90：10	42	3
80：20	33	4
70：30	27.5	5
60：40	25.4	6
50：50	24.5	7
40：60	24	8

Polyester Water Repellent Finishing	Dosage (g/L)	Rating
FU5234	80	5
FU5234S	80	4

FU5234 reaches Grade 5, which is impressive for a fluorine-free waterproofing system.
FU5234S reaches Grade 4, still considered excellent performance.

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Application Performance

1. Application Method:
   Spray Finishing Process: After finishing, the fabric is naturally air-dried at room temperature, followed by water repellency testing.
   (Room-Temperature Air-Dried Water Repellency Test)

2. Washing Method:
   Washing test follows AATCC 135, washing at 40°C, drying method: air drying.
   The test is performed after 5 washing and air-drying cycles.

3. Water Repellency Test Method:
   Water repellency is evaluated according to AATCC 22.

Product	Dosage (g/L)	Polyester Pongee L0	Polyester Pongee L5	White Cotton Woven L0	White Cotton Woven L5	White Taslon L0	White Taslon L5
FU5234	200	90	0–50	80–	0	75	50
FU5234S	200	100	100	95	0–50	100	90–
Conventional Fluorine-Free WR	200	0–50	0	0–50	0	0	0

Why This Technology Matters

This room-temperature film-forming system isn’t just about lowering the drying temperature. It addresses several long-standing issues in the industry:

• No need for high heat to form a hydrophobic film

• Zero solvent, zero odor

• Broader fabric compatibility

• Lower energy use and reduced carbon footprint

• A practical replacement for solvent-based waterproofing in many end uses

• More flexible and forgiving processing conditions in mills

For dyeing factories, the lower temperature requirement means more stable processing and less risk.
For brands, it aligns with sustainability goals.
For end-use products, it brings better balance between hand feel, durability, and environmental safety.

Contact us to know more details about room Temperature Fluorine-free Waterproofing Agents ,email: info@sylicglobal.com.