SUPERHYDROPHOBIC COATINGS FOR THE TREATMENT OF TEXTILES

1 . Aqueous silane emulsion, comprising

a) at least one hydrolysable silane having the general formula (I):

R 1 —Si—(OR 2 ) 3   (I), wherein

R 1 is an C 4 -C 10 , alkyl group which can be optionally substituted with one or more groups independently selected from F, CI, Br, I or OH; and

R 2 is independently selected from an C 1 -C 4 , alkyl group which can be optionally substituted with one or more groups independently selected from F, CI, Br, I or OH;

b) at least one anionic surfactant, having an HLBd value of 18 to 40, which comprises or is sodium lauryl sulfate;

c) optionally at least one non-ionic surfactant, having an HLBg value of 2 to 10;

d) optionally at least one acid;

e) optionally at least one additive; and

f) the remainder being water; wherein

the sum of a) to f) is 100 wt.-%.

2 . The aqueous silane emulsion according to claim 1 , wherein

a) is present in 5 to 6 wt.-% based on the total weight of the aqueous silane emulsion and/or a) comprises octyltriethoxysilane.

3 . The aqueous silane emulsion according to claim 1 , wherein

b) is present in 0.02 to 0.2 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the aqueous silane emulsion.

4 . The aqueous silane emulsion according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one acid d) is an organic acid, having a pKa of 1.3-5.0, selected from acetic acid, para-toluenesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, camphorsulfonic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, glyoxylic acid, citric acid, formic acid, pyruvic acid, tartaric acid, phthalic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, dihydroxy fumaric acid, mandelic acid, malonic acid, glycolic acid and oxalic acid or combinations thereof, and is present in 1 to 1.5 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the aqueous silane emulsion.

5 . The aqueous silane emulsion according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one further additive e) is selected from defoamer, buffering agents like sodium bicarbonate, amino silicones, wetting agents, crosslinking agents, extenders or combinations thereof, and is present in 0.1 to 2 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the aqueous silane emulsion.

6 . The aqueous silane emulsion according to claim 1 , wherein 80 to 90 wt.-%, of water is present, based on the total weight of the aqueous silane emulsion.

7 . The aqueous silane emulsion according to claim 1 , wherein the average droplet size is 30 to 60 nm and the pH-value is from 3 to 5.8.

8 . The aqueous silane emulsion according to claim 1 , wherein c) is present in 0.02 to 0.5 wt. %, based on the total weight of the aqueous silane emulsion and is selected from sorbitan esters and polyethoxylated sorbitan esters. 9 (currently amended): The aqueous silane emulsion according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous silane emulsion is a concentrate, wherein

(1) a) is present in 18 to 40 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the concentrate;

(2) b) is present in 0.05 to 2.0 wt.-% based on the total weight of the concentrate;

(3) c) is present in 0.35 to 2.8 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the concentrate; and/or

(4) f) is present in at least 55 to 58 wt.-% based on the total weight of the concentrate; and

(5) the concentrate emulsion has a pH-value of from 6 to 7.

10 . A textile comprising a coating obtainable by impregnating a textile substrate with the aqueous silane emulsion according to claim 1 .

11 . The textile of claim 10 , wherein the textile substrate is polyamide, polypropylene or polyester.

12 . A method of impregnating a textile, with an aqueous silane emulsion according to claim 1 , comprising the steps:

i) applying the aqueous silane emulsion via pad application onto a textile substrate; and

ii) curing the treated textile substrate obtained in step i).

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein

the application speed of step i) is 1 m/min to 30 m/min, and

the pressure used to apply the aqueous silane emulsion is 1.5 to 3.5 bar.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the curing temperature of step ii) is 150 to 160° C.