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New Technology from Dow Corning Reduces Water, Energy Use in
Fabric Finishing
Midland, Mich. - June 18, 2007 -- Consumers could soon count wearing
denim jeans on their list of environmentally conscious activities. After years
of recycling their paper and plastic; turning off lights when they are not in
use; and driving hybrid cars; consumers now have an additional way to support
the environment. Using a patented silicone technology, Dow Corning Corporation
has developed a new denim processing capability that significantly reduces the
amount of water used, and decreases waste output as well.
“Today’s consumers are much more conscious of the impact their choices have
on the environment,” said Anthony Feng, Dow Corning’s Global Industry Director
for textiles. “Fashion and comfort still remain the main drivers for selecting
fabrics, but today’s consumer also considers the ecological effects of
producing these fabrics.”
Already widely recognized for their ability to increase the softness of
fabrics, silicones also improve several of the physical properties of textiles,
such as tear strength, abrasion and wrinkle resistance, stretch recovery,
shrinkage reduction, water repellency and moisture management.
The traditional method of processing and finishing denim to make it soft and
wearable consists of many separate stages, all requiring large amounts of water
and energy. These stages include removing the size material from warp yarns in
woven fabrics, using enzymes to get a faded look, bleaching to make it whiter
and lighter, dyeing to change the color of the fabric, and treating the fabric
with chemicals and/ or softeners to impart attributes such as wrinkle
resistance, stain resistance, and UV protection. Dow Corning’s patented powder
technology allows processors to combine certain stages such as fading and
finishing into a single step, saving resources as well as time – thus offering
solutions to several environmental challenges that confront industries. This
innovative powder-based technology minimises the need for water and solvent,
since it offers the benefits of silicone in a dry form. It also reduces the use
of biocides that are typically required to maintain the stability of the
emulsion.
“Leading international apparel firms are keen on incorporating this silicone
technology into their manufacturing processes to create textiles for their
environmentally conscious customers,” said Anthony. “We are working with them
to ensure that their needs, as well as those of their customers, are met
exactly.”
Read more about this technology and Dow Corning's
sustainability efforts at www.dowcorning.com
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Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com)
provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more
than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology
and innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services. Dow Corning is
equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than
half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.
In India, Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com/india) is one of
the fastest growing specialty chemical companies. From their office in Mumbai
and their new manufacturing site in Pune, they serve customers across India and
South Asia. Dow Corning in India offers innovative solutions and products to
industries as diverse as textiles, construction, beauty & personal care,
automotive, industrial lubrication, electronics and many others.
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