Silicone Emulsions have a wide variety of uses in the textile industry.
When
used as sewing thread lubricant, silicone emulsion enhances the sliding properties
and heat resistance of the thread. This improves the sew-ability of the thread
whilst significantly reducing the number of thread breaks. The lustre of the
finished article is also improved. Silicone emulsions are also suitable as spinning
lubricants in the manufacture of synthetic fibres particularly polyurethane
fibres.
(Products include Supersil 642-60, Cansoft 36 and Waxil 30, 60.)
Silicone emulsions are used in a wide variety of applications as a softening agent in textile finishing. These emulsions are effective in small concentrations, may be reactive or non-reactive and may require the need for heat curing after treatment. These can also be used in durable press finish formulations with crease resistant finishes.
(Products include Cansoft AR340, Cansoft AR60, Cansoft AR960, Waxil 60.)
Foam is created in many processes within the textile industry such as dyeing, bleaching and printing. Silicone emulsions act as excellent defoamers in very low concentrations without affecting any of these processes.