Archroma has introduced SILIGEN D2W LIQ C, described as the industry’s first truly durable silicone softener for cotton and cotton-Lycra blends. The innovation is designed to keep fabrics silky soft and elastic for longer, ensuring garments remain comfortable and in active use across a wide range of applications including undergarments, sleepwear, baby clothing, dresses, trousers, activewear, T-shirts and towels.

Traditionally, fabric finishers have faced a compromise when applying softeners to cotton, choosing between durability and the retention of natural absorbency. Archroma’s new development overcomes this trade-off, delivering a luxurious hand feel while maintaining absorbency, and avoiding negative side effects such as yellowing. It is also compatible with a variety of other finishing agents, broadening its use in functional textiles.

The softener is based on Archroma’s new patent-pending micro-x chemistry, a cross-linkable microemulsion that forms a silicone network within cellulosic fibres. This ensures more uniform distribution and locks in the softness, even after repeated laundering.

Archroma has also developed a new method to measure softness durability, using elastic recovery in knitted fabrics as a quantifiable marker. This allows mills and brands to track hand feel longevity more accurately than subjective evaluations, supporting greater transparency and sustainability goals.

“By enhancing both durability and cotton hand feel, SILIGEN D2W LIQ C reduces the need for frequent replacement of garments to conserve resources, minimise waste and lessen environmental impact,” said Dhirendra Gautam, VP Global Marketing and Strategy at Archroma.

Headquartered in Switzerland, Archroma employs over 4,500 people in 42 countries and operates more than 30 production sites worldwide, offering specialty chemicals for textiles, packaging, paper and construction markets.

www.archroma.com