Covestro has developed sustainable coating for outdoor textiles with INSQIN technology, which stands for water-based textile coatings that don’t use any solvents.

At the European Coatings Show 2019 from March 19–21, Covestro has presented outdoor clothing that owes its functional properties to this coating technology at its “City of Sustainnovation”.

Two layers are responsible for giving the outdoor clothing on display its soft, comfortable feel: an adhesive coating, which is based on the polyurethane (PU) dispersion Impraperm DL 5310, and a surface coating, which is based on the PU dispersion Impraperm DL 5249. Covestro has been offering its customers both products for a few months.

One square meter of fabric coated with the INSQIN system allows more than five kilograms of water vapor to escape per day. Both layers contribute to the excellent breathability.

On the other hand, layered garments can withstand a water column of more than eight meters during testing. The water column is a measurement of how water-resistant a functional textile fabric is: when the measurement is carried out in accordance with DIN EN ISO 811, the outer side of the textile fabric is exposed to liquid. The water pressure is then steadily increased – until the third drop is seen on the inner side. The effective pressure at this point is then specified in millimeters of water column.

“It is quite easy to customize the breathability and water resistance of the coating to the intended purpose and function of the textile fabric,” said Thomas Michaelis of Covestro.

The head of Textile Coatings for the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America (EMEA/LA) region added: “Tailor-made properties can be achieved by varying the formulation and coating thicknesses.”

Due to the many configuration possibilities of the INSQIN system, its use is not limited to just garments. Owners of backpacks, shoes and gloves also benefit from it.