#Textile chemistry

2019-02-15

HUNTSMAN launches five new footwear technologies ahead of SIMAC 2019

Ahead of this year’s SIMAC show in Milan, Italy, Huntsman’s footwear team has announced the launch of three new water-blown polyurethane technologies that it will be promoting at the 2019 footwear fair. The business also revealed details of two brand new AVALON® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) grades.

New technologies will be key focus at forthcoming footwear event

Visit Huntsman at SIMAC 2019 - Hall 14, Booth A44: 20 to 22 February 2019

Four months after launching its DALTOPED® AquaPUR technology, Huntsman has developed three additional technologies – creating a portfolio of innovative, fully water-blown, polyether soling solutions that provide excellent flow and surface definition and can improve the look and feel of shoe soles.

DALTOPED® AquaPUR GRIP technology delivers all the advantages of DALTOPED® AquaPUR technology but offers a softer compound resulting in greater slip resistance.

DALTOPED® AquaPUR Lite technology enables footwear manufacturers to decrease the weight of shoe soles by up to 35% and is ideal for the production of slippers and low heel sandals.

DALTOPED® AquaPUR Lite ENERGY technology is perfect for high quality footwear thanks to its superior energy return which offers up to 40% more rebound than standard systems.

Huntsman’s DALTOPED® AquaPUR technologies are designed for footwear manufacturers that want to make the switch to using a water-blown system but don’t want to compromise on quality. As standard, DALTOPED® AquaPUR technologies provide good cold flex properties plus hydrolysis and slip resistance. Suitable for the direct-on process and casting of unit soles and midsoles, DALTOPED®AquaPUR technologies are compatible with standard polyurethane processing machines. Offering excellent flow characteristics, they can enable the production of complex soling designs in multiple color combinations. They also have superior blend stability in the machine tank and can be processed at room temperature - which helps reduce energy consumption and shortens the production cycle.

Huntsman will also be promoting two brand new highly transparent TPU grades at SIMAC 2019. AVALON® 65 DHT TPU and AVALON® 85 AHT TPU are the latest additions to the company’s popular AVALON® AHT range, which was first launched back in 2014. Providing harder and softer alternatives to AVALON® 90 AHT and AVALON® 95 AHT grades, the new grades join a family of products that offer excellent UV resistance combined with high mechanical properties.

Huntsman and Steitz Secura deliver breakthrough in sustainable safety footwear

Huntsman, in collaboration with Steitz Secura, has developed a breakthrough polyurethane (PU) solution that can help improve the circularity of safety footwear. Together, the two companies have created a DALTOPED® polyurethane midsole system that can incorporate recycled content without compromising performance – setting a new benchmark in protective footwear production.

Huntsman secures bluesign® APPROVED status for IROGRAN® TPU products

Global chemical company Huntsman has secured bluesign® approval for ten of its IROGRAN® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) products, which are used extensively across the textile and apparel industry. The materials in question are part of Huntsman’s IROGRAN® film and sheet portfolio, and can be used to enhance the production, performance, and comfort of stitchless, seamless garments including underwear, sportswear, and outdoor and waterproof clothing.

Fashion for Good launches DW(O)R-X to navigate the emerging landscape of PFAS-free finishes

Fashion for Good announced the launch of Project DW(O)R-X, a collaborative initiative designed to benchmark PFAS alternative durable water- and oil-repellent (DW(O)R) chemistries. Responding to growing market demand for alternatives to PFAS‑based finishes, the project aims to generate reliable, comparable data that can support informed sourcing decisions and the assessment of emerging chemistries.

Indovinya advances sustainable solutions with agreement for the supply of renewable Oxygen from Air Liquide

Indovinya, the specialty chemicals and surfactants division of Indorama Ventures, has entered into an agreement with Air Liquide — a world leader in gases, technologies, and services for industry and healthcare — for the supply of renewable oxygen. The agreement represents a strategic advancement in Indovinya’s commitment to sustainability, as it increases the share of renewable raw materials in the production of ethylene oxide, one of its key products.

DyStar releases FY2025 sustainability report, marking a new milestone towards its 2030 targets

DyStar, a leading specialty chemicals company with more than a century of expertise in product development and innovation, today announced the release of its FY2025 Sustainability Report, marking a significant milestone in its sustainability journey and reinforcing its commitment to long-term value creation.

PERFORMANCE DAYS announces new focus topic & forums for October 2026

With its upcoming October 13–14, 2026 edition, PERFORMANCE DAYS is placing the spotlight on one of the textile industry’s most important transformations: “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric”, a two-part Focus Topic exploring the future of bio-based innovation across the textile value chain. Part 1, presented in October 2026, will focus on fibers and next-generation material developments, while Part 2 at the March 2027 edition will shift the perspective toward dyeing, finishing, additives, and processing technologies.

Febratex 2026 to be the largest edition of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas with 10 exhibition halls

Febratex 2026 will be the largest edition in the history of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas. Dedicated to the textile and apparel manufacturing industries, the event will take place from August 18–21, 2026, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, with a strong focus on technology, sustainability, and business generation.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues field trip brings international stakeholders closer to Brazil’s cotton production chain

How do you build trust across the global textile value chain? By opening the farm gates. This is the principle behind the Cotton Brazil Dialogues. At the end of July, the programme welcomed its first group of international participants for a five-day immersion into Brazilian cotton production, combining field visits with technical workshops to showcase the quality, sustainability, innovation and traceability behind one of the world’s leading cotton origins.