Ciba Specialty Chemicals’ Textile Effects Segment offers different kinds of solution, depending on application and end product. The Textile Effects segment offer integrated solutions that are tailor-made to suit individual requirements, whether they are those of the fiber producer, the dyer and printer, the machinery maker, the end product manufacturer or the retailer.

For example, the latest innovations presented at the ITMA-03 included products for a wide variety of end applications, including the automotive sector, high fashion and sports wear, numerous different technical textiles, home furnishings and carpets.

Pretreatment – an essential element of processing

To achieve a satisfactory end product, suitable preparation of the textile is essential. Ciba Specialty Chemicals experts presented a new pretreatment concept, Ciba® SMART PREP, which allows customers to save time and costs by reducing process cycles and liquor ratio, while achieving the highest reproducibility and dependability. Treating cellulosics by the SMART PREP method and then dyeing them with CIBACRON® reactive dyes allows processors savings of up to 60% in time and energy, optimizes results and ensures excellent reproducibility.

The right white in the shortest time

To allow customers to produce the right white, whether for further processing or as an end in itself, Ciba Specialty Chemicals has developed Ciba® SMART WHITE, which complements the SMART PREP system. SMART WHITE incorporates the recently launched unique combination product Ciba® TINOCLARITE® WIN for full white and fluorescent whitening agents such as Ciba® UVITEX® BHB LIQ.

Worldwide wash fastness

New Ciba® TERASIL® WW disperse dyes achieve exceptional wash fastness in a broad range of shades. Polyester and polyester blends dyed with these products, can be washed under conditions prevalent all over the world, including at temperatures of 50-60°C and above, with no staining of adjacent material. These dyes, which are available in a broad range of shades, are very suitable for sportswear, workwear and high-fashion apparel fabrics. The latest dye in this range is TERASIL® Red WW 3BS.

Brilliant shades

New Ciba® ERIOFAST® reactive

dyes achieve a unique combination of bright shades and outstanding wash and wet fastness on polyamide and blends. And bright shades remain bright – the world over – irrespective of washing conditions. ERIOFAST dyes are highly suitable for sportswear, ladies’ lingerie and high-fashion apparel. For the polyamide carpet industry, ERIOFAST dyes also combine the unique advantages of high wet fastness, high light fastness and brightness of shade, and freedom from metal.
Easy care – a top priority in today’s world

Ciba Specialty Chemicals and INVISTA (formerly DuPont Textiles & Interiors) are introducing an entirely new generation of stain protectors with dual action repel and release. Advanced Teflon® fabric protector combines two powerful stain fighters in one finish, incorporating Ciba® OLEOPHOBOL® products. This system repels oils and water-based liquids, causing liquid spills to bead and roll off and allowing dry soil to be brushed off easily. The same finish includes a component that releases ground-in stains, preventing them from becoming permanent.

Fresh feel, fresh colors – comfort combined with color

To meet consumer demand for fashion combined with function, Ciba Specialty Chemicals has developed solutions that combine different effects, such as moisture management, freshness finishes and bright colors. Ciba® ULTRAPHIL® moisture management agents are compatible with Ciba® TINOSAN® GD and TINOSAN® GSD freshness finishes and can be combined with new color options. For example, freshness finishes and a new ULTRAPHIL moisture management agent for the toweling sector are designed to enhance comfort and performance of the end product.

Printing for individual designs and effects

For printing on polyamide carpet, Ciba Specialty Chemicals offers Ciba® ERIOFAST® dyes, which combine high fastness and bright shades. Cotton fabrics, printed with reactive dyes, are highly popular for home textiles on account of their bright colors and soft hand. A new printing package involves the use of CIBACRON® P reactive dyes together with Ciba® ALCOPRINT® RD-HT, a blended synthetic and natural thickener for reactive dyes, which ensures excellent color yield and good viscosity stability with both liquid and powder dyes.

New CIBACRON® RAC reactive inks for cellulose and Ciba® LANASET® RAC acid inks for polyamide, wool and silk have been especially developed for the DReAM® highspeed industrial ink jet printing machine of Reggiani Macchine S.p.A, which is equipped with special Scitex Vision print heads that ensure high-resolution, highquality prints. Disperse and pigment inks ranges are being tested on the DReAM system and will be available soon. This breakthrough new system is designed for short and medium production runs.

In addition to digital printing inks for a wide range of fibers, Ciba Specialty Chemicals offers textile chemicals for fabric pretreatment, ink jet printing preparation and finishing, thus providing printers with Integrated Textile Digital Printing Solutions.

Expert services to add value throughout the textile value chain

Ciba Specialty Chemicals offers retailers, converters and garment manufacturers around the globe expert services designed to increase fabric quality, reduce costs and delivery time within the supply chain, and speed the introduction of products to market. The latest innovative service to be introduced is a digital color catalogue that accelerates the entire production process from idea to garment. Other new services include color palette development, training and on-line fashion shade management.