Silicone emulsions for water repellent textiles Silicone emulsions are used in textile finishing to make fabric water repellent or to give it a soft, supple hand. The emulsion is applied by padding (foulard), exhaustion or spray. After drying and curing, a thin silicone film remains on the fibres. As regulations...
Silicone emulsions for water-repellent textiles (0)
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Silicone emulsions for water repellent textiles
Silicone emulsions are used in textile finishing to make fabric water repellent or to give it a soft, supple hand. The emulsion is applied by padding (foulard), exhaustion or spray. After drying and curing, a thin silicone film remains on the fibres.
As regulations on fluorinated (PFAS) finishes become increasingly strict, many finishers are choosing fluorine-free alternatives. Silicones are one of them.
Applications: outdoor and workwear, bags, tents and awnings, upholstery fabric, yarns and sewing thread, towels and fashion.
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The products on this page are not yet available in our webshop. They can, however, be supplied on request through our suppliers. Send us your application, the textile and the required quantity, and we will prepare a quotation or arrange a sample.
Water repellent is not waterproof
A water repellent finish makes water bead up and roll off, but the fabric remains open and breathable. Under prolonged pressure or a lot of water, it will eventually come through. For truly liquid-tight textiles you need a closed coating, see silicones for liquid tightness.
Silicones make textiles highly water repellent, but not oil and soil repellent like fluorinated finishes. That is the main difference.
Water repellent finishes (DWR)
| Brand | Product | Properties according to manufacturer | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wacker | WACKER FINISH WS 60 E | Macro-emulsion of hydrogen siloxane, used with a catalyst such as REPELLENT 50 CATALYST Z. Dosage 20 to 40 g/l, pH 4 to 5, cure 10 to 20 minutes at 120 to 160 °C. The fabric remains breathable | On request |
| CHT | ECOPERL HC | Fluorine-free, silicone-based water repellent from the ECOPERL range. For the range, CHT cites bluesign, GOTS and ZDHC, among others | On request |
| BRB | Sempure silicone emulsions | Emulsions based on silicone oil, silanol fluid or hydrogen siloxane, and Waxil AST silicone wax. Suitability to be agreed per application | On request |
Not every ECOPERL is a silicone. ECOPERL YWR, for example, is a bio-based product based on waxes and polymers.
Softeners
Amino-functional silicones give cotton, viscose and synthetic fabrics a soft, smooth hand and improve sewability. Hydrophilic variants keep the fabric moisture-absorbent, which is important for towels and sportswear.
| Brand | Product | Properties according to manufacturer | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wacker | WACKER FINISH CT 96 E | Non-ionic micro-emulsion of amino silicones, 5 to 30 g/l by padding | On request |
| Wacker | WACKER FINISH WR 1200, WR 301 and WR 210 | Amino-functional silicone fluids for in-house emulsification, WR 210 is non-yellowing | On request |
| Wacker | POWERSOFT AE 61 | Concentrate of an amino silicone macro-emulsion | On request |
| CHT | TUBINGAL RISE | Hydrophilic silicone micro-emulsion with more than 60% recycled silicone, complies with bluesign, ZDHC and GOTS according to CHT | On request |
| CHT | TUBINGAL GEP | Modified hydrophilic silicone softener | On request |
| BRB | Sempure 3733 | Emulsion based on amino silicones | On request |
| Nanotech | Milaniaks silicone finishes | Amino-functional silicones with hydrophilic or hydrophobic character, product codes not published | On request |
Raw materials for formulators: prefer to formulate your own finish? Through us you can also request silicone fluids (dimethicone, from 0.65 to 1,000,000 cSt) and silanes from AToro.
Processing tips
- →Work with a clean, properly pretreated fabric. Residues of detergent, fabric softener or spinning oil reduce the effect.
- →Keep to the pH and dosage specified by the manufacturer and check the wet pick-up of the padder.
- →Cure fully. Without sufficient temperature and time the film does not bond and will wash out.
- →Only combine softeners and water repellents after a compatibility test; some combinations cancel each other out.
- →Test the effect after several washes, not just directly after treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I spray pure silicone oil on clothing to make it water repellent?
That only works for a short time. Pure silicone oil does not bond permanently and is largely gone after one wash. An emulsion with catalyst that is cured gives a durable effect.
Are silicone finishes fluorine-free?
Yes, silicones contain no fluorine. Do check the full composition of each product, and request the certificates your customer requires from us.
Does a silicone finish make the fabric stiff?
No, quite the opposite. Silicones usually make textiles softer. Too high a dosage can, however, make the fabric feel slippery or greasy.
Related categories
Request an emulsion or softener
Tell us which textile you finish, which effect you are looking for and how you apply it. Email info@siliconesandmore.com or call +31 (0)85 485 83 11, Monday to Thursday 08:30 to 17:00, Friday 08:30 to 15:00 (CET).
Product information is based on the manufacturers' technical data sheets, brochures and websites (as of September 2026). Values are typical values and not a specification. Always consult the current TDS and test on your own textile and process. ELASTOSIL is a trademark of Wacker Chemie AG, ALPATEC and ALPAPRINT are trademarks of CHT, SILME and CSILFLEX are trademarks of Nano Tech Chemical Brothers.