At the recently completed OutDoor show in Friedrichshafen, Belgium-based Europlasma, a provider low pressure plasma technology, introduced a disruptive DWR nanocoating technology to a selection of premium outdoor and sporting brands. The DWR nanocoating is based upon Europlasma’s Nanofics technology platform. Nanofics refers to “nanoscaled functionalization into the core of complex shaped” materials and products. It is Europlasma’s patented and patent pending nanocoating technology platform, first applied on industrial scale in 1996, and used for the coating of filtration products, medical devices, consumer electronics and functional textiles.
Low pressure plasma technology allows manufacturers to coat the finished product (garments, shoes, gloves,) instead of the fabrics, says the company. The coatings are so thin that they are invisible to the human eye, and do not change the color or feel of the product. The coatings penetrate into the core of the materials and cover their very fine structures in such a way that products for outdoor and sporting can be made water repellent while maintaining their flexibility, breathability and lightweight, says Europlasma.
Wim Huijsman, Europlasma’s Sales Manager adds: “the most disruptive aspect of our technology however is its environmental impact. Low pressure plasma technology is completely dry and clean, and is becoming a game changer in detoxing the DWR industry. From several case studies we have found that our customers, by using only 1 kg of Nanofics DWR chemical, they can save the world from 5 kg of traditional wet chemicals, more than 115 kg of waste water, and almost 80 kg of CO2. Nanofics DWR also eliminates the use of crosslinking agents, chlorides, formaldehyde, and other toxic products.”
In recent months Europlasma has boosted the development of new DWR nanocoating solutions in cooperation with the Belgian Textile Research Centre (Centexbel), and the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Program of the University of Leuven (KUL). These developments received funding from IWT, the Flemish government agency for Innovation by Science and Technology.
