Fluorine-free DWR – Learning from nature

Keeping textiles clean and dry in outdoor conditions has historically been achieved through a variety of chemical treatments with fluorine-based products providing the benchmark in repellency performance. While a spectrum of fluorine-free technologies are available today that are capable of providing water repellency effects, the cutting-edge of fluorine-free development is towards realising ever higher levels of repellency performance. This presentation will provide an overview of the various fluorine-free technologies available for achieving durable water repellency today together with insights into how natural materials, and unique geometries and structures found in nature, are informing some of the emerging technologies for achieving fluorine-free durable water repellency performance in the future.