Gore invests $15 million to develop durable waterproof technology

GORE-TEX manufacturer WL Gore & Associates has invested more than $15 million to develop alternative Durable water repellent (DWR) in the next five years.

Gore said that our goal is to provide a new solution by improving the environmental conditions while providing the technical level of durability and comfort that meets or exceeds the current DWR.

Perfluorinated compounds (perfluorocarbons) are commonly used in the outdoor industry and functional fabrics as a treatment to improve the waterproof, oil-repellent and stain-repellent properties of textiles, often referred to as durability waterproofing.

However, with regard to the concerns of PFCs in DWR processing, Gore has evaluated new paradigms such as hydrocarbons or wax-based alternatives to fluorinated polymers and non-fluorinated polymers in DWR durability waterproofing solutions. Domain.

The test results show that the non-fluorinated water-resistant and waterproof treatment currently used has a waterproof durability which is significantly lower than that of the Gore used in normal outdoor use, although it has an environment-improving property.

John Cusick, head of the global consumer ready-to-wear business, said: "As a technology-leading company, we are committed to finding solutions that go beyond current alternative coating technologies."

“In order to reduce the environmental carbon footprint of our products and to act as a model for a more responsible outdoor industry, we are fully exploring new ways to provide the necessary functionality in a non-traditional way”.