Dow launches Dowsil IE-9100 emulsion for water repellent finishing

Midland, MI – Dow has announced the launch of DOWSIL™ IE-9100 Emulsion for durable water repellent (DWR) finishing, the latest addition to the Dow Ecolibrium™ Brand portfolio.

An 81-percent bio-based silicone-organic hybrid formulation honored with both the R&D 100 Award and the SEAL Sustainable Product Award, DOWSIL™ IE-9100 Emulsion is designed to match the water repellency performance of fluoro-containing emulsions, making it an excellent choice for high-performance outerwear fabrics, including athleticwear, outdoor garments and equipment, personal protective equipment, and footwear.

DOWSIL IE-9100 Emulsion offers formulators and brand owners key performance advantages expected of performance apparel and technical textiles, including the ability to tailor the level of water repellency to match the specific end-use needs. It also boasts excellent water-based stain protection and color fastness as well as good tape adhesion and logo printability. It can be applied across a wide range of fibers, both natural and synthetic, and helps maintain the breathability of fabrics and membranes to maximize comfort. Additionally, it is compatible with standard manufacturing processes, allowing for ease of use for finishing mills and is certified OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT.

“Improving fabric performance and working towards greater sustainability across the supply chain are two of the biggest drivers of innovation in the textile industry. That’s why we engineered this versatile Ecolibrium™ Durable Water Repellent Technology to support brand owners in meeting these goals,” said Isabelle Riff, Dow Marketing Leader, Textiles EMEAI.

“From outdoor furniture to sneakers,” added Yusuke Kuwana, Dow Marketing leader, Textiles Asia, “we look forward to tapping into the power of our new DOWSIL™ IE-9100 Emulsion to help textile formulators throughout the industry explore new possibilities in performance apparel and technical textile development.”

On October 10 at 10 a.m. CEST / 4 p.m. CST, Isabelle Riff, along with Yusuke Kuwana and Jacob Milne, Dow Scientist, Textiles, will present the specifics of this new product during a dedicated webinar titled “Advancing textiles’ durable water repellency with silicone hybrid, bio-based technology.”