Silicone Polymers

for Fabric Finishing - Asia Selector Guide

XIAMETER brand Silicone Polymers

Silicone finishes are widely recognized as the best
materials for increasing the softness of fabrics,
enhancing their aesthetic feel and imparting an
excellent hand. They improve several physical
properties, such as tear strength, abrasion and wrinkle
resistance, stretch recovery and shrinkage reduction.
They can provide either water absorption or water
repellency with little to no impact on fabric whiteness.
They make fabrics more comfortable and more
desirable to touch, purchase and wear.
XIAMETER brand silicone fabric finishes are available
in a wide range of chemistries to meet the broadest
and the most specific fabric property needs. Aminoand amidofunctional polymers are among the most
popular forms. Other silicone materials typically
used in fabric finish formulations include hydroxy,
methyl hydrogen and epoxy-polyether functionalities.
Silicones can be formulated into customized emulsions
or blended with organic polymer emulsions to provide
a wide variety of performance properties.
This brochure provides information on major
XIAMETER brand silicone fabric finishing polymers
that are available in Asia. This product family
represents a range of proven, high-performance
polymer products ideal for a wide range of fabric
finishing applications.

Main Features of XIAMETER brand

Silicone Polymers

Premium hand
Very good softness
Excellent fiber-fiber lubrication
Substantive to fibers
Good stretch and recovery
Improved elasticity and resiliency
Excellent drape
Good durability
Excellent sewability
Exhaustible
Forms microemulsions readily
Very low yellowing (depending on type)
Hydrophobic or hydrophilic (depending on type)

Product Performance Features1

Product

Key Features

XIAMETER OFX-8803 Fluid

Modified aminofunctional silicone; excellent high-shear

stability and durable press bath compatibility; improved
alkaline stability and anionic compatibility3
Bulky, unique hand feel; premium soft and slippery; low
yellowing
Self-emulsifying, very good hydrophilicity; good softness;
excellent high-shear stability and pH stability; low impact
on fabric whiteness
Premium hydrophilic softener, very low or non-yellowing
Premium softness and wet touch; easy-to-make stable
emulsion
Premium softness and greasy handle

XIAMETER OFX-8058 Fluid

XIAMETER OFX-7700 Fluid

XIAMETER OFX-8800 Fluid

XIAMETER OFX-8417 Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-8468 Polymer
XIAMETER OFX-8460 Fluid
XIAMETER OFX-8630 Fluid
XIAMETER OFX-8822 Fluid
Dow Corning FZ-3785
XIAMETER OFX-3710 Fluid

XIAMETER OFX-8209 Fluid

XIAMETER
OFX-8040A Fluid
XIAMETER OFX-8600 Fluid

Premium softness and greasy handle

Premium softness with minimal impact on fabric whiteness
Premium softness
Premium softness and smoothness; low
yellowing; easy-to-make stable emulsion
Premium softness, high level of slippery; easy-to-make
stable emulsion
General purpose, cost-effective aminofunctional softener
Very good softness and cost-effectiveness; lower yellowing than conventional aminofunctional silicones
Very good hydrophilicity, softness and durability; very low
impact on fabric whiteness

All ratings are relative to each other: best = ; worst = .

Results may vary according to the substrate and preferences of the evaluator.
3
When formulated and used according to XIAMETER suggested procedures.
4
When crosslinked.
1
2

Hand

Type of Hand2

Natural, silky

Natural, bulky

Natural, silky

Natural
Greasy

Greasy

Greasy
Silky, bouncy4

Greasy
Smooth and soft

Greasy

Greasy
Silky

Natural

Product Performance Features1

Product

1
2

Whiteness

Water
Absorbency

Durability

Crosslinkable2

XIAMETER OFX-8803 Fluid

XIAMETER OFX-8058 Fluid
XIAMETER OFX-7700 Fluid
XIAMETER OFX-8800 Fluid
XIAMETER OFX-8417 Fluid
XIAMETER OFX-8468 Polymer
XIAMETER OFX-8460 Fluid
XIAMETER OFX-8630 Fluid
XIAMETER OFX-8822 Fluid
Dow Corning FZ-3785
XIAMETER OFX-3710 Fluid

Partially
Yes
Partially
Partially
Partially
Partially
Partially
Yes
Partially
Partially
Partially

XIAMETER OFX-8209 Fluid

XIAMETER OFX-8040A Fluid
XIAMETER OFX-8600 Fluid

Partially
Partially
Partially

All ratings are relative to each other: best = ; worst = .

Polymer can be crosslinked to form an elastomeric finish.

Product Properties1 and Application2

Product

XIAMETER
OFX-8803 Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-8058 Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-7700 Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-8800 Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-8417 Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-8468 Polymer
XIAMETER
OFX-8460 Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-8630 Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-8822 Fluid
Dow Corning
FZ-3785
XIAMETER
OFX-3710 Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-8209 Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-8040A Fluid
XIAMETER
OFX-8600 Fluid

Nitrogen
%

Viscosity, cSt

End
Capping

Type of Emulsion
That Can Be
Formulated

0.3

3,000-8,000

RO

Microemulsion

0.18

3,000-5,000

OR & OH

0.27

1,500-4,500

Me

N/A3

1,500

0.9

1,200

Me

0.6

5,000-15,000

Me

0.83

1,500

Me

0.37

1,500

RO

0.65

1,500

RO

0.25

4,000

Me

0.9

1,000

Me

0.60

500

RO

0.4

3,500

RO

0.65

2,500

RO

Micro- or
macroemulsion
Micro- or
macroemulsion
Microemulsion
Micro- or
macroemulsion
Micro- or
macroemulsion
Micro- or
macroemulsion
Micro- or
macroemulsion
Micro- or
macroemulsion
Micro- or
macroemulsion
Micro- or
macroemulsion
Micro- or
macroemulsion
Micro- or
macroemulsion
Microemulsion

These values not intended for use in preparing specifications.

Prior to use, the stability of any emulsion formulated using these polymers should be thoroughly tested for the application.
3
Not available.
1
2

Typical
Application
Methods
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion
Padding or
exhaustion

Silicone Polymers: Softness vs. Whiteness

Premium

OFX-3710

FZ-3785*

OFX-8630

OFX-8209

OFX-8040A

OFX-8058

OFX-7700

OFX-8460

OFX-8600
OFX-8800

OFX-8803

OFX-8417

Moderate

Good

Softness1
1

OFX-8468

OFX-8822

Very Good

More Yellowin g

Low Yellowing

Very Low -Nonyellow

Whiteness 2

Results may vary according to the substrate and preferences of the evaluator.
Relative to each other.
* Dow Corning product
1
2

Silicone Polymers: Softness vs. Water Absorbency/Repellency

OFX-8803

OFX-8630

OFX-8040A
OFX-8058
OFX-8209

Good

Very Good

OFX-8600

OFX-8468
OFX-8460

OFX-8417
OFX-3710
OFX-8822

OFX-8800
OFX-7700

Moderate

Softness

Premium

FZ-3785*

Immediate

Less than 10 sec

Less than 1 min

50

Water Absorbency 1
Water absorbency on 100% cotton woven according to AATCC 79-1995.
Spray rating of 100% cotton woven according to AATCC 22-1996.
3
When used with crosslinker and catalyst.
* Dow Corning product
1
2

70

Water

Repellency 2

100

Contact Us
Visit www.xiameter.com to learn more about the many
product options available to you from the XIAMETER
brand.

LIMITED WARRANTY INFORMATION - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

The information contained herein is offered in good faith and is believed to be accurate. However, because conditions and methods of use of our products are beyond our control, this information should not be used in substitution
for customers tests to ensure that our products are safe, effective and fully satisfactory for the intended end use.
Suggestions of use shall not be taken as inducements to infringe any patent.
Dow Cornings sole warranty is that our products will meet the sales specifications in effect at the time of shipment.
Your exclusive remedy for breach of such warranty is limited to refund of purchase price or replacement of any
product shown to be other than as warranted.
DOW CORNING SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR MERCHANTABILITY.
DOW CORNING DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
Dow Corning is a registered trademark of Dow Corning Corporation.
XIAMETER is a registered trademark of Dow Corning Corporation.
2012 Dow Corning Corporation. All rights reserved.

Form No. 95-1125-01