Tex-Shield, a project funded by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme to develop environmentally friendly coatings suitable for a variety of industry uses and everyday applications, is now underway after a successful launch meeting at TWI, Cambridge in Jan 2013.
Chemicals used in textiles such as personal protective clothing, sportswear and furniture require water and oil repellent coatings but chemicals currently used are leaching into the environment over time and may be considered a hazard to human health. Alternative, non-fluorinated chemicals for these treatments either do not provide a good-repellent finish or do not last long. Even fewer meet the regulations (2006/122/EC).
TWI's sol-gel coating development and characterisation team has made significant progress in addressing this problem through the development of environmentally friendly, durable water and oil repellent coatings. Novel non-flourochemical based coating development work is being carried out in Cambridge and deposition and characterisation of the coating is being carried out in the state-of-the-art laboratory facility in Middlesbrough.
The Tex-Shield project features a consortium of companies from across Europe whose combined expertise will work towards a coatings solution. Consortium members include research organisations TWI (UK), INSA LYON (France) and the University College of Gent (Belgium). Four associations from across Europe, representing hundreds of potential members, as well as five SMEs, representing knowledge of markets and trends, are also steering the project to ensure it has practical application in the market place.
For more information please contact Colin Graves or visit www.texshield-project.eu