In the 1970s, the Dutch chemical company, AGC developed the so-called Asahi-Guard® finish for coating textiles and other surfaces. For more than 35 years, Asahi Guard® has been a reliable and trustworthy brand that is used in over 30 countries around the world. Textiles made of natural or synthetic materials, such as wool, leather or polyester, although considered water-repellent, are never fully waterproof in their untreated state.
Waterproofing process
The most obvious method for making textiles waterproof is to coat them with something, for example, with wax. This coating sits atop the fabric and closes any pores through which moisture could seep inwards. Once the textile's pores are closed, this also means that no moisture can be conducted from the inside out. The special Asahi Guard® treatment, on the other hand, makes textiles waterproof without clogging up the pores.
Asahi Guard® is a fluorinated water and oil-repellent, which is used for treating textiles. The secret behind the Asahi Guard® coating is its extremely low surface tension. If a liquid such as water or oil hits an object with higher surface tension, the liquid will penetrate through it. However, when using the Asahi Guard® coating, the surface tension of textiles is reduced, so that water and oil droplets simply pearl off it.
Coating without functional impairment
Unlike wax coatings, the special Asahi Guard® coating protects textiles without changing their texture, colour or air permeability. The Asahi Guard® fluorine resin can be used on a wide variety of base materials, giving paper, wool, cotton and even leather, water and dirt-repellent properties. This is why the Asahi Guard® coating is primarily used to create waterproof clothing and hats in the sports and leisure industry. Hats with an Asahi Guard® coating are particularly durable and long-lasting accessories. The special Asahi Guard® coating can give hats made of various base fabrics and in different styles and colours robust, water and dirt-repellent properties, and therefore guarantees excellent wearing comfort.
The Asahi Guard® coating gives clothing and hats both water and dirt-repellent properties. Even liquids such as oil simply pearl off the coated surface. This means that hats and items of clothing with reliable Asahi Guard® quality coatings keep their timeless and fresh appearance for longer and require very little care.
