Consumer Care
Liquid – Silicones
We have developed specialty silicones that help improve the standard detergents used around the world for decades, making them more sustainable and more easily tailored to the individual needs of customers in different regions. That has enabled us to tap new growth potential.
Facts and Figures
WACKER’s antifoam agents reduce water consumption in handwashed laundry by 50 percent. That saves up to 20 liters of water per rinse.
Conserving Water
Half the world’s population still washes clothes by hand, and washing machines remain a luxury in countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand. The foam needed to begin the washing process has to be rinsed away afterwards with large amounts of water.
Absorption test: specialty silicone softeners improve water absorption.
Filling facility for cosmetic-grade silicone emulsions
This is where WACKER’s innovative silicone fluids for fabric care come into play. As additives in innovative detergents, they rupture the foam lamellae, with amazing results. Total water demand drops by 50 percent because fewer rinses are necessary. That is a huge advantage for countries where clean water is scarce.
Soft and Absorbent
Rising standards of living are driving global demand for paper-based cosmetic wipes and moist tissues. The market for such tissues is growing by around 5 percent annually. A key requirement is that the surface of these paper tissues feels soft to the skin.
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WACKER develops tailored products for detergent manufacturers.
BELSIL® silicone elastomer gel for cosmetics and skin-care products.
Silicone defoamers keep foam under control.
GMP emulsion facility in Nünchritz
Silicones from WACKER make that possible. They can be anchored on the fibers and project out of the paper surface like hairs. When skin brushes against them, they bend extremely easily with hardly any perceptible resistance, while having next to no effect on the tissue’s tensile strength or water absorption.
To further enhance these properties, WACKER experts incorporate hydrophilic molecules into the silicones. And, with specialty additives that we develop in our local applications labs, the paper products can be customized to meet the individual needs of consumers all over the world.