Silicone washed

Silicone washed refers to a textile finish where an amino or micro-silicone emulsion is applied to the garment or fabric. Amino silicones orient with their functional amino groups toward the fibre surface, while the silicone chains project outward and create a distinctly flowing, silky hand. The process runs at the end of the wash line at 40 degrees, followed by drying at 130 degrees, which fixes the silicones on the fibre.

Silicone finishes are water repellent, heat stable and durable: the hand remains after many washes. On denim, silicones are often combined with enzyme wash to turn stiff goods into soft, comfortable jeans. On bed and table linen silicones give a luxurious hand that cotton alone cannot offer.

Downsides: amino silicones can cause yellowing and, combined with detergents, can lead to staining. Modern micro and nano silicones are yellowing-stable. Additional cost for the silicone finish is moderate, the result for the end customer clearly noticeable.