Fadex AS New meets the requirement of the automotive industry VDA 278 test and is registered under REACH. © Archroma

Archroma, a leader in colour and specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, has launched Fadex AS New, a new “super UV protector” to make automotive and transportation textiles even more resistant to light.

“Fadex AS New is the first innovation to be introduced by Archroma’s new Global Competence Center for Automotive and Synthetic Dyeing, which was inaugurated on 6 May 2019, and the whole team there is proud to continue the long Archroma history of bringing innovation to textile manufacturers and enhanced function and aesthetics to end-users,” commented Mark Dohmen, Head of the Global Competence Center for Automotive and Synthetic Dyeing, Archroma.

Light fastness

During the long life span of cars and other transport vehicles, some of their components, such as the polyester trims of doors and pillars, seat covers, carpet flooring or head lining, are exposed to high levels of sunlight and UV rays. This intense light and heat often cause fabric colour to fade more quickly and polyester fibre to weaken, making the car interior look older. The light fastness requirements specified by motor vehicle manufacturers are therefore extremely high, and only carefully selected products can meet them.

Archroma developed Fadex AS New to address this challenge, providing textile manufacturers serving the automotive industry with a new, advanced light fastness improver, especially when used in Archroma’s Light Fast Car system with its Dorospers A & K high-light-fast dyes.

The new “super UV protector” was presented at the recent Techtextil exhibition on 15 May 2019.

With the Light Fast Car system based on Fadex AS New, Dorospers A & K dyes and alkaline buffer Lyocol ELD liq. Now, manufacturers can achieve more “efficient” processing, including: a substantial reduction in water and energy consumption, reduced CO2 emissions, shorter process time, less rewinding and fibre breakage, and optimised and efficient process in all stages, the company reports.

Unique combination

Taking light fastness to new heights, the unique combination of Fadex AS New and Dorospers A & K dyes allows to meet the high light fastness requirements of automotive car producers. Fadex AS New also allows maintaining the tear strength of the polyester fibre.

Fadex AS New displays low fogging. It is suitable for exhaust, continuous and printing processes, and especially recommended for the Thermosol dyeing process of seat belt fabrics.

Fadex AS New and Dorospers A & K dyes can be used together with Archroma’s water repellent, soil release, anti-microbial, flame retardant and high abrasion resistance functional finishing solutions. Fadex AS New meets the requirement of the automotive industry VDA 278 test and is registered under REACH.

Challenging status quo

Last week, the company also announced the introduction of Appretan NTR, a new water-based textile coating binder based on renewable natural ingredients.

After the well reported EarthColors, a range of dyes synthesised from materials such as almond husks or saw palmetto leaves, Appretan NTR is a water-based textile coating binder developed for applications, such as tea bags, coffee filters or capsules. It uses a natural, renewable raw material that is widely available near the production site of Lamotte, France, where Appretan NTR is produced.

www.archroma.com

Further reading

Archroma launches Appretan NTR