Lanxess to focus on sustainable leather production at ACLE
04/08/2016
Other features of Lanxess’s offering at the Shanghai event will include new developments in the manufacture of waterproof leathers, a new fluorine-free product for anti-soiling topcoats and a modular system for sustainably produced crust.
The company describes one of the products it will show off in Shanghai, Levotan W, as a “functionalised silicone-containing micro-emulsion” for the production of waterproof leathers. It is easily dispersible in the float and can be homogeneously incorporated into the hide to promote even dyeing, Lanxess has said, adding that leathers incorporating the product will be particularly suited to lightweight uppers for hiking and golf shoes that have to be waterproof but still breathable to give wearers the required level of comfort.
In addition to its fluorocarbon-based anti-soiling additives, Lanxess now also markets a halogen-free product. Aquaderm X-Shield HPS effectively reduces the soiling of light-coloured leather and improves its cleanability, the company has claimed. It is applied as usual to leather as a topcoat and adheres to the surface. “Light-coloured leathers are still the trend, but they are a challenge for leather producers because soiling is more quickly visible on these colour tones,” said Dr Thomas Brackemeyer, head of organic leather chemicals at Lanxess, in the build-up to ACLE. “With our new anti-soiling additive, we now offer a fluorine-free alternative for achieving proven Aquaderm X-Shield protection. We see great potential for this sustainable innovation in the automotive, furniture and shoe upper leather sectors.”
Also on display at ACLE will be a new modular system for “green crust”. The system includes products, processes, competent support and on-site technical service from Lanxess. Named “X-Green Crust Technology” it includes the enzymatic X-Zyme process for the beamhouse steps, developed jointly with Denmark-based industrial enzyme producer Novozymes. It uses two microbially produced enzymes in soaking and liming. According to Lanxess, this considerably increases the quality of the hides, reduces waste and improves the efficiency of the entire process.
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