The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich., recently launched a series of acrylic binders in North America designed to enable hygiene and medical products manufacturers to produce end-use nonwovens products containing minimal levels of formaldehyde.
According to Dow, Rhoplex Econext binders offer good wet strength, hydrophobicity, and the option to adjust softness and stiffness; but contain low and ultra-low levels of formaldehyde so that manufacturers can meet increasingly stringent industry standards such as the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification for textile raw materials, intermediates and end products.
Rhoplex Econext 110, 210 and 230 are the first binders in the product line to be commercialized in North America. The binders may be used in disposable and reusable nonwoven applications and are especially suitable for use in formaldehyde-sensitive environments such as hospitals, schools, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified buildings and manufacturing facilities.
