German chemicals company Bayer MaterialScience has unveiled its latest generation of polyurethane dispersions for the coating of textiles at Techtextil in Frankfurt, Germany.

With a solids content of 60%, the new dispersions are said to be close to the 64% theoretical maximum packing density for flowable materials, making it possible to achieve high add-ons in a single pass.

The highlight of the products on show is Impranil DLU which, according to one of Bayer’s textiles coatings experts, Thomas Michaelis, "is an aliphatic, high-performance polyurethane dispersion characterised by extremely good foamability, flexibility and hydrolytic stability", developed for high-quality coating of sporting goods, upholstery, automobile seats and other technical goods.
The range also includes three other products. Impranil LP RSC 1554 is said to give textiles more volume and body and can be used to formulate cost-effective coatings for items such as outerwear fabrics and nonwovens, Impranil LP RSC 1380 is used in similar applications primarily to improve the haptic properties of fabrics, and Impranil LP RSC 1537 is a specialist product developed for the transfer process.

In addition to the high-solids products, Bayer MaterialScience is also showing a new aliphatic polyurethane dispersion for the top layer, Impranil LP RSC 1997, which is said to add abrasion and age resistant properties to the surface of synthetic leather.