#Textile chemistry

2021-07-29

Huntsman develops new IROGRAN® TPU grade for laminating technical textiles

Technical textile producers manufacturing high performance fabrics for outdoor clothing and other consumer and industrial applications now have a brand-new thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) at their disposal – thanks to global chemical company Huntsman. IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU is a highly versatile elastomer, which can be easily extruded and added to nylon and polyester materials to give them a protective, durable, waterproof layer.

IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU is designed for use in the manufacture of performance garments that need to shield wearers against the elements while they experience outdoor adventures. Added to fabrics, as an extruded film, IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU can give items of clothing, such as raincoats, a highly durable finish, combined with a soft touch.

With a high tensile strength, extruded films made from IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU can aid the stretch and recovery of the materials they are used on – increasing their longevity. This special TPU grade also offers good levels of abrasion and tear resistance, making it ideal for use in bladder applications, in the manufacture of tension fabrics and in industrial textile applications.

As well as delivering significant performance benefits, IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU offers considerable processing advantages over traditional textile laminating TPUs. With a high melt strength, IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU is very stable during production. Tolerant to high forces in its melted, blown state, extruded films made from IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU are far less likely to break during processing. This enables manufacturers to improve production throughput and lower scrap rates, which in turn reduces waste and keeps costs down.

Trent Shidaker, Global Marketing Director, Elastomers at Huntsman, explains more: “Our team has extensive experience in the development of TPUs for textile lamination. IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU takes our work in this sector to the next level. Developed in close cooperation with several of our textile customers, this new TPU grade offers significant improvements over previous generation technologies when it comes to durability, production efficiency and reducing manufacturing waste. The customers we’ve approached to discuss this TPU get really excited when we tell them that we’ve managed to enhance the properties of the grade in its melted state, without compromising any of the key final performance attributes expected of our IROGRAN® materials. We see extensive opportunities for this grade across a range of textile laminating applications and are already getting lots of enquiries from potential customers worldwide.”

Depending on the end-application, films made from IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU can be engineered to have different surface finishes, including gloss, smooth and matte effects.

IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU is the latest addition to a well-established family of elastomer products from Huntsman, which are renowned for their performance in textile applications.

IROGRAN® A 85 P 4394 HR TPU is made at Huntsman Polyurethanes elastomers manufacturing facility in Ringwood Illinois.

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.

Jeanologia urges industry to accelerate PP Spray phase-out following ZDHC Watchlist update

Potassium permanganate has officially entered the Chemical Watchlist of the ZDHC Foundation, signaling increased scrutiny and potential phase-out of one of the most hazardous chemicals still used in denim finishing. The inclusion confirms an industry shift that Jeanologia anticipated more than a decade ago.

RUDOLF gets the exclusive global distribution rights for Sanitized® textile technologies

With effect from today, RUDOLF officially assumes exclusive global distribution rights for Sanitized® textile technologies from SANITIZED AG. This is the next milestone in the strategic collaboration announced in 2025, with the partnership between the two companies now fully implemented and expanded worldwide.

organIQ seek: smart alternative to potassium permanganate

CHT Group announces new technical findings within its organIQ seek platform that significantly advance the transition toward permanganate-free denim bleaching. Through extensive industrial testing and application research, CHT confirms that organIQ seek can now be used with remarkable effectiveness as a substitute for potassium permanganate in spray bleach, while remaining aligned with sustainability expectations and cost realities in the European market. At the COLOMBIATEX in Medellín as well as at the Exintex in Puebla and the Kingpins Show in Amsterdam the CHT Group will present organIQ seek as an alternative to potassium permanganate.

A Powerful Opening: Global thought leaders launch the International Cotton Conference Bremen

The International Cotton Conference Bremen will open on 25 March 2026 in the Parliament building of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen with a keynote session of exceptional calibre. Distinguished international experts will set the stage for the conference by offering incisive perspectives on the most pressing challenges and the defining trends shaping the future of the global cotton trade. Their insights will span a broad spectrum — from geopolitically driven disruptions affecting global supply chains to the opportunities emerging from innovation-led agriculture capable of supporting a growing world population. Together, these opening keynotes will frame the dialogue of the conference, highlighting both the complexity of today’s market environment and the pathways toward a resilient and forward-looking cotton sector.

Where performance becomes product strategy: Techtextil 2026 puts functional apparel in the spotlight

The demand for high-performance textile solutions for the apparel industry increases – and with it the sector’s innovative strength. Techtextil 2026 addresses these developments: The Performance Apparel Textiles area (Hall 9.0) presents around 130 exhibitors from 13 countries showcasing innovative materials for workwear, protective clothing, smart fashion, outdoor and sports. Global key players such as Concordia Textiles, Getzner, Kermel, Klopman International and YKK Europe are among the participants. The live show “Performance Apparels on Stage” brings forward-looking wearables on stage and demonstrates textile innovations where they matter most: in action.

Jeanologia launches Billy

The new AI extracts precise laser designs from a garment image in minutes, transforming how vintage denim is recreated for production. If Jeanologia’s laser changed the way jeans were made at the end of the last century, its AI now takes the next step: moving from reproducing wear to designing it. / archive photo © 2026 Jeanologia

EDANA unveils nominees for INDEX™26 Awards: Highlighting the next generation of nonwoven excellence

EDANA is proud to unveil the highly anticipated nominees for the INDEX™26 Awards, the nonwoven industry’s highest accolade for technical and sustainable excellence. Out of a record-breaking field of entries, these finalists represent the cutting edge of material science—from bio-based hygiene fibers and PFAS-free protective textiles to revolutionary water-filtration machinery. Each nominee has been selected by a jury of industry experts for their ability to solve critical global challenges, including the transition to a circular economy and the pursuit of enhanced consumer performance.