New product concept
Seeking Super Hydrophobic Technology For Sportswear
ClosedInquiries no longer accepted
Type of Solution sought
- A material
- A technology
- A co-development partner
Description of Desired Solution
A SpecialChem client is looking for technologies that allow a super hydrophobic finish, coating, or surface to a textile substrate (cotton, poly-cotton blends, polyester, nylon (PA), elastane, urethane surfaced synthetic leathers, and viscose) or a complete product (garments or shoes).
Background
Sportswear producers are offering high technicity textiles in order to optimize performances of athletes. The SpecialChem client - a leading innovative sportswear manufacturer - wants to propose super hydrophobic clothes to enhance customer experiences.
Following the vision of SpecialChem client, garments or shoes responding to the below-mentioned requirements would gain valuable market shares and offer good profits for the technology provider.
Potential volume is high. As an example, our client purchase today around 2,5 million linear yards of DWR (Durable Water-repellent) treated fabrics per year.
Following the vision of SpecialChem client, garments or shoes responding to the below-mentioned requirements would gain valuable market shares and offer good profits for the technology provider.
Potential volume is high. As an example, our client purchase today around 2,5 million linear yards of DWR (Durable Water-repellent) treated fabrics per year.
Detailed Solution Description
The SpecialChem client is searching for technologies that allow a super hydrophobic finish, coating, or surface to a textile substrate or a complete product.
Super hydrophobicity is defined for this purpose as a material that exhibits a water-droplet contact angle of >150° and a low contact angle hysteresis, of approximately 10° or less. It must be understood that water droplets will be striking the substrate at terminal atmospheric velocity, and that the surface will be subject to rubbing (abrasion) whilst also being exposed to water.
Substrates for the coating or finish include: cotton, poly-cotton blends, polyester, nylon (PA), elastane, urethane surfaced synthetic leathers, and viscose.
Testing requirements:
Air permeability will be maintained to a minimum of 80% of the same material without the treatment (although technologies will be considered that fall into the moisture vapor permeable category).
Spray test (AATCC 22) >90% of water does not cling to nor penetrate the surface after 30 home laundering wash/dry cycles.
Treatments should not negatively affect other textile properties such as color (especially whiteness), color fastness, stretch, nor unduly effect fabric hand and visual fabric appearance.
Treatments applied to one side of a textile should preserve wicking capabilities on the other.
Flex testing – material should retain 90% effectiveness after material flex testing per the attached standard (based on DIN 53351)
Technology readiness:
Technologies should have the following characteristics to be considered:
Super hydrophobicity is defined for this purpose as a material that exhibits a water-droplet contact angle of >150° and a low contact angle hysteresis, of approximately 10° or less. It must be understood that water droplets will be striking the substrate at terminal atmospheric velocity, and that the surface will be subject to rubbing (abrasion) whilst also being exposed to water.
Substrates for the coating or finish include: cotton, poly-cotton blends, polyester, nylon (PA), elastane, urethane surfaced synthetic leathers, and viscose.
Testing requirements:
Air permeability will be maintained to a minimum of 80% of the same material without the treatment (although technologies will be considered that fall into the moisture vapor permeable category).
Spray test (AATCC 22) >90% of water does not cling to nor penetrate the surface after 30 home laundering wash/dry cycles.
Treatments should not negatively affect other textile properties such as color (especially whiteness), color fastness, stretch, nor unduly effect fabric hand and visual fabric appearance.
Treatments applied to one side of a textile should preserve wicking capabilities on the other.
Flex testing – material should retain 90% effectiveness after material flex testing per the attached standard (based on DIN 53351)
Technology readiness:
Technologies should have the following characteristics to be considered:
- Demonstrated capability to bond to several of the substrates outlined above
- Demonstrated ability to pass the spray test as described
- Technology must have the capability to support high manufacturing volumes, and a variety of product sizes
- Technology and process must be EPA approved – non-hazardous to humans or the environment
Possible Routes To Investigate
- Microstructures
- Atmospheric surface energy modification followed by a coating or micro-structured films
- Novel film structures
- Novel coating techniques
- Micro roughened yarns or textiles
Solution that are not of interest
- Fluorocarbon chemistries
- Conceptual approaches, defined as those where the concept has not been proven based on the metrics as outlined in this brief
- Approaches requiring special atmosphere chambers, such as vacuum chambers to ready the surfaces. However atmospheric treatments in enclosed spaces will be entertained
Anticipated Next Steps with Respondents
The SpecialChem client is willing to test all new proposed material or/and technologies as soon as possible.
Other Comments / Important Considerations
- Ideal submissions will have the possibility to apply the technology to whole finished products, rather than be applied to materials before final product assembly
- Cost to implement and to treat materials must be addressed
- Time to implement must be addressed also
- Please describe how the technology can be deployed on a mass scale
Type of Outcome expected
- Ready-to-be-used solutions
- Co-development partners
- Proven concepts
Company Demographics
- Industry our Client is in: Sport
- Annual Revenue: >USD 1 billion
- Years in Business: +15 years
- Headquarters Area: USA
Business considered
- Buying the requested technology
- Licensing the technology
- Contractual partnership (R&D, marketing…)