Yaphank, N.Y.-based Fiber-Shield Industries introduces Karpetcryl, a super-hydrophobic carpet and rug treatment. Karpetcryl offers long-lasting protection from damaging household stains such as wine, coffee, and pet accidents. Karpetcryl is effective and safe on all leading materials used today, including wool, nylon, and modern polymers, according to the company.

Super-hydrophobic coatings cause a thin layer of air to form on top of a surface. “Super-hydrophobic effects are also found in nature,” said Manny Vickers, president and co-founder of Fiber-Shield Industries. “They appear on plant leaves, butterfly wings, and duck feathers, for example. This is what we study in biomimetics, where scientists solve problems by observing and recreating solutions found in nature.”

Such super-hydrophobic surfaces are extremely difficult to wet since they cause liquids to aggregate and form beads that sit on the surface. These surfaces efficiently repel liquids, causing molecules to clump together and form little beads that are not absorbed by the rug fibers and, thus, easily wiped away.

Fiber-Shield Industries formulates Karpetcryl in two broad categories. Class A products are ready to use, right off the shelf. Class B products include ingredients sold to bulk makers that can greatly enhance efficacy and end-user performance. Available in 15, 30, 55 and 275 gallon containers, Karpetcryl has a shelf-life of up to 36 months.

For more information, visit www.fiber-shield.com.