New products from BASF for the leather industry: Polyurethane binders for environmentally friendly leather finishes

22-Aug-2001

BASF's pioneering research and development programme has led to the introduction of a new generation of Polyurethane binders for use in environmentally friendly leather finishes. Most leather needs to be finished in order for it to be able to meet the high standards of durability and serviceability that consumers expect. A new range of finishing products from BASF is now available: all of the products in the range are water-based and environmentally friendly. In this context it is especially important that BASF succeeded in producing this range completely free of alkyl tin compounds, therefore all the new products carry the additional letters "TF".

The most important advantages of the polyurethane range are:

- Low solvent content or completely free of solvents

- Free of alkyl tin compounds

- Miscible with each other and all anionic finishing products

- High standards of fastness can be met

- Can be applied to all types of leather

The range consists of the following products:

Adhesion coats: Astacin® Ground UH TF

Base coats: Astacin Finish ARU TF, Astacin Finish PF TF, Astacin Finish PFM TF, Astacin Finish PW TF, Astacin Finish PUMN TF, Astacin Finish SUSI TF

Top coats: Astacin Top GA TF, Astacin Top LH TF, Astacin Matting MA TF, Astacin Matting WTB TF

This range of ecological finishing products has been developed to assist customers in their efforts to conform to the requirements of legislation governing environmental protection and to produce environmentally friendly leather goods. As in many other branches of industry, increasing attention has been paid to ecological and toxicological issues in recent years. The environmental impact of industrial production is one of the most fundamentally important social and political issues of our time. The products used in the manufacture of leather have to be safe to use in the tannery, they must not pose any hazard to manufacturers and end users of leather goods, and they must not damage the environment. Tanneries in all parts of the world have a duty to observe the limits on potentially hazardous substances that are enshrined in local legislation. Export-oriented tanneries also have to be able to meet the requirement of legislation in force in the countries to which they export.

The innovative products supplied by BASF make it possible for tanneries to manufacture leather by environmentally friendly means at all stages of the production process. BASF will continue to follow the principles of Responsible Care in its research and development. These new polyurethane binders are further evidence of BASF's commitment to minimizing and, wherever possible, eliminating all detrimental effects on the wellbeing of man and the environment.

The range of performance chemicals for leather supplied by BASF consists of standard products and specialities for beamhouse, retanning, dyeing and finishing. BASF's integrated network strategy in the fields of research, development and production, known in German as "Verbund", is one of its strengths in the leather sector. BASF occupies a leading international position in finding solutions to technical problems, which ensures that the company and its customers have a decisive competitive advantage.

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