New syntan and top coats from Rohm and Haas

Rohm and Haas Company have introduced an innovative acrylic polymer with unique benefits as a retanning agent for softer leathers. Designated Leukotan 8090 acrylic syntan, the new offering has the valuable ability to selectively fill loose pockets and more open areas in leather without excessive plumping. The result is a more uniform crust with increased cutting value. Apart from the novel filling behaviour, Leukotan 8090 possesses other appealing attributes. The dispersing ability of this syntan is especially noteworthy. It helps to assure uniform dye acceptance and promotes thorough distribution of lubricating polymers and other retanning agents. Other key Leukotan 8090 features include a wide pH tolerance and no contribution to fogging. Finally, like other acrylic syntans, Leukotan 8090 imparts resistance to the detrimental effects of light and heat. The properties of Leukotan 8090 make it appropriate for the soft leathers employed in upholstery and garments. Leukotan 8090 can also be used to improve the break of heavyweight leather and its filling properties are especially desirable in dry-milled leathers. * Rohm and Haas Company also have three new products for waterborne top coat finishes applied to leather. All three entries are the results of the company's ongoing research programme to generate components for high-end automotive applications. Hydrholac CR-15 emulsion is an acrylic dispersion developed as a solvent-free reactive binder for economical high-performance top coats. Used with a polyisocyanate crosslinker and appropriate modifiers, Hydrholac CR-15 produces remarkably tough (high-wear) finishes that also exhibit good film formation and block resistance properties. Hydrholac UD1 emulsion is a dull aqueous dispersion of a fully reacted aliphatic polyurethane polymer. Designed as a matting agent, it is typically crosslinked with a polyisocyanate resin to produce films with medium-to-high tensile strength, good flexibility, and outstanding colour stability. Binder LS-3492 is a reactive aliphatic polyisocyanate resin that functions as a crosslinking agent to enhance film properties such as toughness, abrasion resistance, and cold crack resistance. It is typically paired with aqueous acrylic and polyurethane dispersions.