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Functional additives for future-oriented markets

Only HOMBTIAN anatase microcrystals make it possible to deluster and process naturally transparent man-made fibers. At Sachtleben, we are now focussing on completely new horizons with innovative functional additives for the spun-fibers industry.

In many cases, only the right inorganic additive makes possible particular fiber properties and thus opens the way to new functionalities in man-made fiber textiles. Glossy fibers, for instance, require a special gloss additive. This additive has no effect on the polymer's original gloss, but nonetheless assures trouble-free operation of the fiber manufacturing process.

A newly emerging requirement made on modern textile fibers is the demand for effective protection of the human skin against the harmful effects of UV radiation. Special UV additives from Sachtleben meet these demanding standards. Anti-static, anti-bacterial and flame-retarding properties are also equally a part of the modern requirement profile that a large range of contemporary fibers are required to fulfil. We are working on integrated solutions for these special needs.

HOMBRIGHT S: The additive for gloss fibers

Not only the demand for delustered fibers is booming on the world's market. The potential applications for glossy fibers are also becoming more and more diverse.
Our HOMBRIGHT S innovation makes it possible to produce glossy man-made fibers with new formulations which, thanks to our special additive, can be processed without difficulty using the conventional spinning machine. With HOMBRIGHT S in the fiber, it becomes possible to create a specifically textured fiber surface (peak and valley texture) which achieves improved thread guidance and optimum thread transport thanks to its improved frictional performance. Unlike the situation when titanium dioxide is used, the original high gloss of the polymer fibers is retained.

HOMBRIGHT S, a specially modified barium sulfate, provides precision tailored optical properties for the fibers' polymer matrix. HOMBRIGHT S nonetheless acts as an individual particle in the fiber, generating the required characteristics. In short: These properties ensure not only attractive and high-gloss fibers, but also enhance the spinning machines' productivity by optimizing the fibers' frictional behaviour, minimizing the yarn break rates and allowing an even staining of the fiber.

Click here for more information (pdf download).

The sunshade in textiles: HOMBITEC S

The provision of reliable and comprehensive protection against aggressive UV light dangerous for the human skin is becoming ever more important. Attention is focussing more and more not only on new generations of sun-protection cremes, and increasingly, on specially modified textiles. These are required to perform two functions: The traditional high wearer comfort offered by man-made fiber materials, combined with an integrated high level of protection against solar radiation. At Sachtleben, we have developed innovative products to match these requirements. With Hombitec S, an ultra-fine titanium dioxide, we are now able to supply a new ultrafine crystal which can be incorporated with an extremely high degree of distribution into the synthetic fiber and assures efficient UV protection.

Each of our HOMBITEC S particles acts like a mini-sunshade in the man-made fiber. The exceptional fineness of the ultrafine crystals means that harmful UV rays can, in effect, no longer penetrate through the textiles and thus have no chance of reaching the skin. The UV block effect is permanent and is lessened neither by wearing nor by washing. In addition, HOMBITEC S is chemically stable and particularly well tolerated by the skin.

HOMBITEC S is available as powder (HOMBITEC S 100) as well as a predispersed suspension for PET (HOMBITEC S 120G) or a predispersed suapension for PA (HOMBITEC S 120A).

Click here for more information (pdf download).