Toray announces its more durable DWR, Kudos XT

Toray Industries Inc. has announced Kudos XT, a new durable water repellent (DWR) delivering higher levels of durability for both abrasion and machine washing. The breakdown of DWR treatment and subsequent “wetting out” of a garment’s outer layer has been a top consumer complaint since the advent of waterproof/breathable fabrics. 

DWR treatments improved over time, but consumers objected to the new levels of toxicity, culminating with C8 DWR, which has been banned in many markets. Toray says that it has solved both problems with Kudos XT, available in a PFC-Free version, as well as C6, a level less toxic than C8. Each version prevents an outer layer from wetting out, even under heavy rain conditions. 

Both treatments have excelled under real-world testing for both rain and abrasion resistance:

• After 50 wash cycles, it maintains over 80 points in the
  JIS L 1092 Bundesmann Rain Test.
• After 100 wash cycles, it exceeds 80 points in the JIS L 1092 Spray Test.
• 50 wash cycles is enough to completely degrade most DWR treatments, but water still beads up and runs off fabrics treated with Kudos XT.

The company is targeting diverse markets including outdoor, snowsports, athleisure, sportswear and work uniforms. The product was developed in accordance with the company’s Green Innovation Business Expansion Project, through which Toray is building its position in energy conservation, biomass, recycling and diverse other fields to deliver lasting environmental, resources and energy solutions.