Appretan NTR’s is a water-based textile coating binder based on renewable natural ingredients. © Archroma

Archroma, a leader in colour and specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, has introduced Appretan NTR, a new water-based textile coating binder based on renewable natural ingredients, for the very first time at Techtextil last week.

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

Challenging status quo

About one third of Appretan NTR’s active content is based on a polysaccharide from renewable raw materials, allowing a reduction in the use of fossil fuel-based resources without compromising performance.

“Appretan NTR represents a breakthrough in the area of coating binders, demonstrating again that it is possible to challenge the status quo and to create chemistry that is gentler on the environment,” commented Damien Corpet, Global Head of Product and Technology Innovation, Binders and Reactive Resins, at Archroma. “We are proud to bring to the industry a new generation of binders that relies more on the natural and safe materials that surround us and less on classical petroleum based raw materials, helping to minimize our dependence on fossil fuel resources.”

Helping save energy

Appretan NTR does not contain biocides or alkylphenolethoxylates (APEO) and does not release formaldehyde. It has been designed so that the optimum properties can be achieved without additional curing step at high temperature compared to the industry standard process, thus helping to save significant energy for textile producers and the planet.

Initially developed for the chemical bonding of nonwovens for technical textiles and coating, Appretan NTR is said to display excellent film forming properties and very hydrophobic behaviour. In addition, the chemistry of this binder makes it resistant to water, mild solvents, oil and fat, and it also provides an increase in dry and wet tensile strength, according to the manufacturer. Appretan NTR can also be applied in combination with other crosslinkers.

Appretan NTR has also been tailored for customers who operate in the highly regulated, growing market of hot liquid filtration. It complies with global food contact standards, such as FDA 176 -170, BfR XXXVI and BfR XXXVI/1, which certifies the suitability of the end-product even in conditions such as immersion in boiling water.

www.archroma.com