Thread Lubricants

MBI Silicones’ response to today’s demands of the textile industry has materialized into a diversified line of products that impart specific properties to the treated fibers, whether they are natural, synthetic or recycled.

The “thread lubricants” is one of the very important categories of textile treatments.

Silicone-based thread lubricants/release agents from Path Silicones are designed to reduce dynamic and static frictions and wear arising from high speeds, strong tension forces, high temperature and other adverse conditions encountered during the processing of thread.

Silicones can impart “bounce” or resiliency, antistatic properties and allow for higher temperature exposures. These properties aid in fiber processing and improve fiber performance.

Thread manufacturers select silicone based thread lubricants for their low use levels, allowing effective cost and process control. Additionally these low volatility products are safe, non-reactive and heat stable.

Among the most popular silicone thread lubricants are the polydimethylsiloxane fluids.

Low viscosity polydimethylsiloxane fluids of between 5 and 50 cSt, like MBI Silicones SF20-5 to SF20-50, are particularly recommended for the manufacture of spandex and synthetic fibers.

Higher viscosity fluids between 100 and 12,500 cSt, like MBI Silicones SF20-100 to SF20-12,500 are also used for slip and lubrication of different threads.

Polydimethylsiloxane fluids work efficiently in reducing the coefficient of friction for natural and synthetic fibers, at levels between 0.1% wt treatment and 1% wt treatment. Thus silicone thread lubricants are found commonly in solvent based or water based forms.

Another category of silicone fiber and textile lubricants is the amino functional modified polymers group. These fluids are well known for their substantivity and softening properties to cotton, cotton-polyester blends and acrylic blends as well. MBI Silicones SF-8300 and SF-8120 are included in this cluster.

MBI Silicones SF-HPC textiles lube, formulated in mineral spirits, contains special additives to increase wetting properties on the fiber for further treatments.

MBI Silicones SF-TLA is another formulated thread lube designed to reduce static build-up, eliminate stick-slip and prevent heat degradation of synthetic sewing threads like polyester and nylon. It can be used “as received” or further diluted with silicone fluid or solvent.

Another product, unique to MBI Silicones, which has shown excellent results on spandex as well as other synthetic fibers, is SF-C4. It provides superior lubricity while showing very good substantivity resulting in less lubricant “fly-off” during high speed operations.

The products used in synthetic fiber processing, when the fiber is drawn from the spinnerets, are silicone polyether copolymers. These fluids help to lubricate the fiber and provide antistatic properties. MBI Silicones recommended products for this application are SF-540, SF-590 and SF-5400.

To provide lubrication of spun polyester sewing threads we recommend MBI Silicones SF-TLB. This silicone-wax dispersion lowers the coefficient of friction and provides a heat barrier to protect the thread and minimize thread breakage due to the high temperature of the needle during high-speed sewing.

Emulsions of polydimethylsiloxane fluids are water based lubricants / release agents for threads and fabrics. SFM-2063, SFM-2035 or SFM-2040 are just examples of MBI Silicones emulsions for fiber treatments.

Emulsions of ultra-high viscosity polydimethylsiloxane fluids such as SFM-3490 give very good results on cotton thread used in high speed, high load applications where higher temperatures are present.

In addition to all the thread lubes already mentioned above, MBI Silicones is also happy to provide custom products, tailor-made to your specific application’s needs.

Either we can duplicate your own proprietary formula, or we can work with you to develop a product which will fit your needs perfectly. The best part about our customization program is that we make the product, inventory it and deliver it to you when you need it. Therefore, you can be relieved of the chore of chemical formulation and get back to what you do best ——– MAKING THREAD!

Our experience and technology can help with the best choice product to fit your particular application needs, whether it is for fiber treatments or textile finishing agents.

Please contact your MBI Silicones representative for product information and pricing.