Waterborne Room-Temperature Fluorine-Free Water Repellent: Technology And Applications

Industry Background: Challenges in Fluorine-Free Water Repellency

With increasingly strict environmental regulations, fluorine-free water repellent finishing has become a key trend in the textile industry. Currently, the mainstream fluorine-free water repellent systems are divided into waterborne fluorine-free repellents and solvent-based fluorine-free repellents, each with its own advantages and limitations.

Limitations of Conventional Waterborne Fluorine-Free Repellents

The traditional waterborne fluorine-free finishing process typically includes:

Preparation → Padding → High-Temperature Curing → Winding

In this system, the waterborne fluorine-free repellent generally requires curing at temperatures above 150℃ to achieve effective water repellency. The key principle is:

High temperature causes the hydrophobic polymer encapsulated in the emulsion to transition and rapidly form a film on the fabric surface, creating a continuous water-repellent layer.

However, high-temperature processing presents several challenges:

• High energy consumption, not conducive to energy-saving and carbon reduction

• Incompatibility with heat-sensitive materials (e.g., SMS fabrics, paper, certain garments)

• Limited process flexibility, unsuitable for low-temperature or air-drying conditions

Solvent-Based Fluorine-Free Repellents: Low-Energy but High-Risk

Solvent-based fluorine-free repellents rely on the solvent’s solubilizing effect on the hydrophobic polymer and generally exist in a microemulsion state.

• After solvent evaporation, the polymer can form a water-repellent film with minimal energy input.

• This allows low-temperature or room-temperature water repellency.

However, these systems have significant drawbacks:

• Solvents are often flammable and explosive, posing safety risks during production

• Potential health hazards to operators

• Not suitable for large-scale or widespread application

Sylic's Innovation: Room-Temperature/Low-Temperature Film Formation

To overcome the high-temperature limitation of traditional waterborne systems, Sylic has developed low-temperature film-forming monomers, incorporated into a fluorine-free water repellent system.

Using a unique emulsion polymerization process:

• The energy required for polymer alignment and hydrophobic film formation on the fabric surface is significantly reduced

• High-temperature curing can be avoided

• Effective water-repellent layers can form at room or low temperatures

This innovation addresses the core challenge of combining environmental safety, energy efficiency, and high water repellency.

Application Scenarios and Solutions

Padding and Curing for Fabric Finishing

Suitable for a variety of fabrics, especially:

• SMS fabrics

• Paper for water-repellent applications

• Functional industrial textiles

Advantages:

• Drying temperature can be reduced from traditional 170℃ to below 130℃

• Energy saving and carbon reduction in textile mills

• Compatible with heat-sensitive substrates

Spray and Air-Dry Finishing

Applicable to:

• Garments

• Footwear materials

• Webbing and protective fabrics

Features:

• Completely replaces solvent-based water repellents

• Non-toxic and odorless

• Natural air-drying achieves full water repellency

• Provides safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly finishing

Garment Washing Finishing

Applicable to:

• Finished garments

• Garment cut pieces at washing plants

• Footwear material finishing

• Home washing machine water-repellent processing

Benefits:

• Simplified process

• High efficiency

• Makes water-repellent finishing practical for everyday use

  
  

Product Models and Features

Notes:

• FU5234: firmer hand feel, better stain resistance

• FU5234S: softer hand feel, superior water repellency and wash durability

Application and Testing Performance

1️⃣ Application Method

Spray Finishing Process: After finishing, the fabric is naturally air-dried, followed by water repellency testing.

Room Temperature Air-Dried Water Repellency Test

2️⃣ Washing Test Method

• Standard: AATCC 135

• Washing Conditions: 40℃

• Drying Method: Air dry

• Washing Cycles: 5 cycles of washing and air drying

3️⃣ Water Repellency Test (AATCC 22)

Observation: Both Sylic products significantly outperform conventional fluorine-free water repellents across multiple fabric types.

4️⃣ Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) Resistance Test (AATCC 193)

Polyester Water Repellent Finishing Performance:

These results confirm excellent water, oil, and stain resistance, suitable for high-performance functional fabrics.

 Product Selection Recommendation

• FU5234:

• Firmer hand feel

• Superior stain and oil resistance

• Recommended for fabrics requiring high anti-stain performance

• FU5234S:

• Softer hand feel

• Superior water repellency and wash durability

• Suitable for garments or fabrics requiring high water resistance and durability

Summary

Sylic waterborne room-temperature fluorine-free water repellents:

• Break the traditional concept that “waterborne systems require high-temperature curing”

• Achieve low-energy, safe, and environmentally friendly processing

• Deliver efficient, versatile, and high-performance water repellency across multiple applications

This provides textile mills, garment manufacturers, and end-users with a truly sustainable, safe, and high-performance fluorine-free water-repellent solution.