RUCO-GUARD®

In order to make optimum use of the effect of the fluorocarbon polymer film on the textile, the fluorocarbon polymer has to be applied onto the fibre surface as a wafer-thin film. Of special importance is a uniform orientation and a possibly compact distribution of the perfluorinated alkyl side-chains of the polymer on the textile surface.

The efficiency of fluorocarbon polymers for the oil and soil- repellent finish can be considerably improved by the co-application of fluorine-free substances to improve the effect, so-called boosters. These usually are aromatic or aliphatic, blocked (partly also non-blocked) polyisocyanates, that are applied together with the fluorocarbon polymer. During the subsequent drying and thermal treatment of the textile at temperatures from 130 °C to 180 °C the blocking agents are split off and reactive isocyanate groups are obtained. Subsequently they react with the fibre, with themselves or with the fluorocarbon polymer.

Crosslinked polyurethanes result, which due to their polyvalent crosslinkage lead to a stable film on the fibre, to a better orientation of the perfluoroalkyl chains. In this way excellent oil and water-repellent effects are achieved. Furthermore, due to the crosslinkage with the textile substrate the wash resistance of the finish will be improved.