How outdoor sportswear is waterproof, windproof and breathable
Outdoor sportswear is mostly made of waterproof and breathable fabrics , waterproof and breathable fabric means that water cannot penetrate into the fabric under a certain pressure, and the sweat emitted by the human body can be conducted to the outside world in the form of water vapor through the fabric, thereby preventing sweat from accumulating and condensing between the body surface and the fabric to keep the wearer comfortable. Comfortable, it is a high-tech, unique functional fabric.
Waterproofing is not a problem for the fabric industry. The key is how to achieve both breathability and super wind resistance. Below, we will provide an in-depth explanation of new high-tech products from the perspective of waterproof, windproof and breathable fabric types.
1. Breathability is achieved by laminating waterproof and breathable membranes
1. PTFEfilm
The diameter of water vapor molecules is 0.0004 microns, the diameter of light mist with the smallest diameter in rainwater is 20 microns, and the diameter of drizzle is as high as 400 microns. If the pore diameter can be created to be different between water vapor and rainwater The membrane between them can be both waterproof and breathable. The American Gore Company became the first company to produce this film using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). It was laminated with fabric and then named GORE-TEX? (GORE-TEX™) film. After continuous efforts, it is laminated with other hydrophilic films to form a composite film, and special treatment is performed on the film to greatly improve its fastness.
It is generally believed that the water pressure of this fabric can reach 10000mm, and the water pressure will drop significantly after washing 6-7 times; the high air permeability can reach 10000g/sqm*24hrs, but it is not just The fabric can reach this value. It needs to be washed several times to remove part of the glue. The available pores will increase and the air permeability will increase. At the same time, the clothing made of this fabric can also block the intrusion of cold wind and prevent wind from penetrating the fabric. It takes away the heat emitted by the body so that the body does not feel cold due to heat loss; in addition, the fabric can resist 97.5% of ultraviolet rays.
PTFEThe fabric is now mainly represented by Gore and Donaldson in the United States. Gore produces and laminates its own films and does not sell films separately. It designates better clothing manufacturers to make clothing and has separate sales personnel to cooperate with them. After Gore produced the unique waterproof, windproof, and breathable fabric, it can be said to have written a myth in the outdoor field. It was known as the “Century Fabric” in Europe and the United States, and the clothing, shoes, hats, and gloves made of it have been used for many years. It has been protecting American astronauts and countless explorers for a long time. The militaries of Germany, France, Nordic countries, South Korea, Singapore and other countries have also partially adopted this fabric. It was listed as one of the top 100 American products by Fortune magazine. Almost all the top outdoor clothing brands use GORE-TEX? (Gore-TexTM) fabrics to provide comprehensive protection for outdoor enthusiasts and enable them to fully enjoy the fun of outdoor activities. Among them, the brands that are familiar to Chinese consumers There are: Arc’ Teryx, The North Face, Black Yak,
Ozark, Bonton, Garmont, Arctic Fox, Nautica, Timberland, Tecnica,
Vasque,Treksta etc. In recent years, Gore has made continuous efforts to accurately position the different functions and applicability of GORE-TEX fabrics and developed four categories that can meet the needs of different outdoor sports: GORE-TEX Pro Shell, GORE-TEX Performance
Shell, GORE-TEX Soft Shell and GORE-TEX
Paclite Shell has established its absolute position in the functional fabric industry; Donaldson only produces films and laminates them at Japanese lamination manufacturers.
2. TPUFilm
TPU is the abbreviation of thermoplastic polyurethane film, which is a non-porous hydrophilic film. Since the film itself has no pores, the waterproof effect is naturally very good. Breathability is mainly achieved through its hydrophilic properties. It relies on the difference in vapor pressure inside and outside the clothes to transfer steam from places with high pressure to places with low pressure, thereby achieving the breathable function.
2. Breathability through coating
Adopt dry direct coating, transfer coating, foam coating, phase inversion or wet coating (solidified coating) and other process technologies to combine various waterproof, The coating agent with breathable function is applied on the surface of the fabric, so that the pores on the surface of the fabric are closed or reduced to a certain extent by the coating agent, thereby achieving waterproofness. The breathability of the fabric is achieved through the microporous structure formed by a special method on the coating or the interaction between the hydrophilic groups in the coating agent and water molecules. With the help of hydrogen bonds and other intermolecular forces, water molecules are adsorbed on the high-humidity side and then Pass to the low temperature side to obtain the analytical action. Coated fabrics are widely used because they are low in price and achieve a certain degree of breathability. However, due to its poor waterproof and breathable performance and unsatisfactory feel, its market share is gradually increasing.The reduction of �.
The currently developed wet transfer coating fabric brings new life to coated fabrics. It not only has high physical properties such as waterproofing and breathability, but the surface fabric can be treated with 100% Teflon and is washable. The speed can reach more than 25 times and the feel is very good.
3. Breathability through fiber
1.Venter Fabric
was designed by the British Shirley Research Institute in the 1940s. It uses high-count, low-twist pure cotton yarn from Egyptian long-staple cotton and high-density heavy-weight flat weave fabric. Cold and submersion-resistant clothing worn by British Air Force pilots during World War II. When the fabric is dry, the gaps between the warp and weft yarns are larger, about 10 microns, which can provide a highly breathable structure; when rain or water hits the fabric, the cotton yarns expand, reducing the gaps between the yarns to 3 to 4 microns. This A closed-cell mechanism combined with a special water-repellent finish ensures that the fabric is not further penetrated by rainwater. At present, this type of fabric has long been replaced by other waterproof and breathable fabrics.
2.Coolmax fabrics
The sweat is discharged from the body by creating pores inside the fiber, which is the moisture-absorbent and sweat-wicking fabric currently on the market.
TIPSNew top category: GORE-TEX Pro Shell three-layer fabric uses the most advanced GORETM Micro Grid
Backer’s new patented lining structure technology. First of all, the stitching marks at the seams of the clothing are significantly smaller and almost unnoticeable. As a result, the friction between the inner and outer clothing is greatly reduced, which not only facilitates the free stretch of the body but also enhances the overall aesthetics of the clothing; secondly, unlike in the past, Compared with fabrics, GORE-TEX Pro Shell composite fabric weighs 15 grams less per square centimeter, and the weight of the entire garment will be reduced by about 60 grams, allowing people to engage in outdoor sports such as mountaineering, bouldering, ice climbing, skiing, and adventure hobbies. Users experience long-lasting protection and ultimate comfort. With the protection of this special lining structure, the waterproof, windproof and breathable functions of GORE-TEX membrane will be maintained longer.
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