[轉錄]科技材料總彙 by Peter Kray

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轉載自OutdoorGear板感謝defo同意轉載而原作者是Peter Kray 發信人: defo.bbs@bbs.tkumcc.idv.tw (好想去爬山), 看板: OutdoorGear 標題: 科技材料總彙 by Peter Kray 發信站: 淡淡的山岳天 (Tue Sep 9 23:37:20 2003) 轉信站: SimFarm!news.ee.ntu!TKUMCC 轉載自 http://www.couloirmag.com/Gear/reviews/clothing/fabric_glos.asp 舊資料了，板上大大們可以多補充，有點長，寫得還蠻詳盡的 Technical Fabric Glossary Need help figuring out what all of those techy terms and functional fabric really mean? by Peter Kray Editorial From Couloir volume XIV, number 3, December 2001 Aeroflow Mesh: Fabric used by Mountain Hardwear in base layers, this is a two-piece design with a dual-faced polyester mesh. Next to the body, the inner microfiber mesh allows for visibly wide-open pore ventilation to the jersey facing exterior layer. The fast-drying mesh moves moisture away from the skin while the surface knit provides wind protection. Also great for aerobic activities where it is used as a shirt or shell. All Weather: Sierra Design's proprietary name for its 3-layer laminate outerwear that is manufactured with a 100 percent stretch nylon fabric in the both the outer face and next-to-skin layer. The layers are laminated to a breathable/waterproof polyurethane membrane with millions of tiny pores that allow water vapor (i.e., sweat) to escape and evaporate on the surface of the fabric, but are too small to allow water droplets to penetrate the coat. The high stretch and recovery properties of the coat due to the two stretch nylon layers allow Sierra Designs to build a three-layer laminate that can be used in close-fitting clothing. Capilene: Patagonia's name for polyester with a hydrophilic surface finish. Capilene's core remains hydrophobic (water hating). Patagonia also adds an antimicrobial finish to Capilene to inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria. Originally used in Patagonia-brand thermal underwear and in stretch versions where it has been blended with Lycra, it is now available from Patagonia in everything from base layers to outerwear, this is a super soft, very warm material most commonly used in long underwear. Ceramic Fleece: Polyester with ceramic fiber mix for advanced heat and breathing properties. The addition of ceramic particles in the fleece helps to conduct body heat to the outside of the jacket by virtue of its ability to create millions of precise, microscopic pores that allow air moisture to escape from the fabric. The pores are small enough that rain and snow is repelled from the garment because there isn't enough space for it to leak in. Ceramic is also a great conductor of heat, helping to collect and purge body heat through the pores, while retaining warmth when the body becomes colder. ComforTemp DCC: A variety of foam and fabric solutionsembedded with ThermasorbR additives, which are thermal additives containing proprietary phase change materials (PCMs). Microencapsulation allows the PCMs to be embedded in the foams and fabrics the same way time-release medication is manufactured for pharmaceuticals. ComforTemp DCC products can be fabricated in different ways to retain or exclude heat, bringing a more constant temperature to a variety of applications. For cold weather, ComforTemp DCC foam and fabric products retain body heat during periods of activity and release the heat during periods of inactivity when the body is most in need of warmth. Microspheres within each product have pre-set heat readings according to the temperatures they are most likely to be used in. When the body temperature exceeds that temperature, the microspheres absorb heat. When the body dips below that temperature, the heat is released. ComforTemp DCC products "recharge" naturally and indefinitely. By Frisby Technologies. CoolMax Mesh: Moisture-transporting channel-shaped yarns and the loosely knit construction of this polyester Dacron mesh help move accumulated perspiration quickly away to the exterior fabric where it can be evaporated away. Like most materials here, CoolMax breathes, wicking sweat away from the body to be evaporated. What's different is the four-channel fabric construction it uses to do it. In CoolMax, the channels are narrowed at the side to force water vapor into a central channel and move it through the garment faster. CoolMax works best the closer it is to the body because it moves moisture so quickly. By DuPont. Cordura?: The longstanding tough guy of the fabric world, CorduraR is a very strong, super fine yarn fabric made of air-textured, high-tenacity Nylon type 440 that meet specific strength, durability and construction requirements. From the finest grades to the heaviest, all CorduraR fabrics combine outstanding durability with lightness and easy-care characteristics. CorduraR has a superior bulk to cotton and standard Nylon and is unaffected by rot or mildew. It is also easily cleaned and quick to dry and, depending on construction and treatment, has a high level of water resistance. In skiing, Cordura is typically used as a cuff guard to protect clothing where it might get ripped by ski edges or bindings. For increased water, tear or abrasion resistance, Cordura is now also being mixed with Acrylic, Lycra, Supplex and Taslan. Dermizax?: A 2- or 3-layer laminate "smart" fabric that reacts to both heat and moisture buildup. As it heats up, it becomes more breathable. The threshold temperature at which it becomes more breathable can be adjusted during fabric development, but not once it is produced. In construction, a monolithic membrane is laminated between two layers of fabric to allow vapor to escape rapidly and evaporate while it keeps water from seeping in. As the temperature rises, the membrane's polymer molecules move more rapidly, expanding the inner-molecular openings to accelerate the fabric's permeability. As the temperature drops, the fabric closes down again for better insulation. By Toray Industries. Down: Down is the soft shaftless undercoating from a duck or goose. Each cluster has thousands of fibers growing out of a central point that create thousands of air pockets that provide insulation by trapping warm air. The quality of down is indicated by its "fill" power, or the amount of space that an ounce of down will fill. Higher fill means higher loft. This means that more air will be trapped, which in turn will result in a higher insulation value. The insulation value of down is calculated by compressing 1 ounce of down and measuring it in cubic centimeters. Low down rating might read like 450 or 550 fill power, while the highest rated commercially available down would be 750+. Some down experts, like the folks at Feathered Friends, can provide pure down capable of filling more than 800 cubic inches of space upon request for you feather aficionados. For general use, most down is a by-product of geese raised for food, and so comes from young undeveloped birds. According to Feathered Friends, only breeder birds kept alive from year to year provide mature, fully developed down. Down becomes stronger and loftier as geese mature, increasing its volume to weight ratio as the down clusters increase in size. This constitutes only a tiny percentage of the down available, and so demands a higher price because of its limited quantities. DriClime?: A Marmot exclusive, this base layer is based on a bi-component knit. A bi-component knit (also known as a denier gradient knit) uses two different sizes of yarns: larger yarns next to the skin and smaller, finer yarns on the outside. Moisture moves to areas of greater surface area. Smaller fibers have a greater surface area. Hence the term, "mechanically wicking." DriClime mechanically move moisture away from the skin and spreads it widely across the surface area of the fabric where it can evaporate more quickly. Because the fabric is wicking moisture away from the body, it stays dry and warm next to the skin. Available for three different activity levels in a light, midweight and Power Stretch as well as gloves linings, jacket linings and the Marmot DriClime Windshirt series. DryStorm XTH: This is the 3-layer Ripstop and nylon shell material used by Jagged Edge in the company's Telluride Mountain Series. In the three layers, two layers of resin next to the skin have inner molecular spaces between the polymer fibers that actively wick water vapor away from the skin to the surface of the garment. The micropores of the hydrophobic outer layer are too small to allow larger drops of rain and snow water to penetrate the clothing. Jagged Edge also uses Drystorm XTH Stretch material in key areas of the clothing like the knees on the pants or elbows and shoulders of the jacket to provide elasticity and ease of movement. DRYtech: A proprietary Mammut laminate made of woven material from Schoeller and waterproof materials from DuPont. The Schoeller material is laminated to a durable Supplex material via a highly breathable membrane that provides durable water and windproofing. The result is a durable wind and waterproof laminate that draws moisture away from the interior of the garment based on body temperature with the help of the inner layer, a woven blend of Nylon, Lycra, Cordura and Coolmax of Schoeller construction. EPIC? by Nextec: Literally, this is Encapsulated Protection Inside Clothing. Instead of coating the finished fabric, the process encapsulates each individual fiber with an ulta-thin polymer film and then bonds them together. Then a breathable barrier is placed between the fiber bundles. The encapsulated fibers virtually eliminate wetness as they cannot collect water inside their little bundle, and instead push it back to the surface of the garment to evaporate. Because the fibers are encapsulated, they also resist wind and stay flexible as the process works inside of the fabric rather than over it. eVENT?: eVent? fabric is a Direct Venting? waterproof barrier with incredible moisture management properties that bypass the need for a garment to be fairly wet before it starts to remove moisture. At the core is an ePTFE (expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene) membrane. The expanded PTFE film used to make eVENT can't be used in raw form for waterproofing because body oils, sweat and suntan oil contaminate the material. The oils provide channels for water to travel, making the material less waterproof. To use ePTFE for waterproofing, it needs to be rendered oil-repellant. Traditionally, this was accomplished by putting a thin, continuous layer of polyurethane over the surface of the ePTFE. This compromises the inherent breathability by covering the open-pore structure and makes the Polyurethane, which absorbs and retains moisture, damp and clammy. Instead, eVENT has a patented method of rendering ePTFE oil-repellant with a molecular surface treatment of the individual fibrils that comprise the open-pore structure of the material. With this proprietary system - called Dry System technology - the moisture vapor you produce is not required to condense into liquid to escape the fabric. Instead, it is allowed to vent directly to the outside without first making the inside of the garment damp and clammy. By BHA Technologies. Fleece: Co-opted from the original textile industry when wool was the only fleece and cotton was a base layer, this is now the end-all term for many of the vests, insulation layers and even soft shells made of a fabric with a deep, soft pile. Typically a brushed, knitted, polyester fiber, fleece can also be constructed with nylon, lycra or even cotton, and sometimes uses a ceramic blend for wicking purposes. Gore-Tex?: The Gore-TexR membrane was revolutionary because it was the first working synthetic-based apparel system really designed to form an effective barrier against wind and water while maintaining breathability. In the construction, the patented membrane is typically laminated to a nylon or polyester face fabric as a 2-ply laminate. An inner garment lining, either a mesh or taffeta, is required in a 2L construction. Otherwise, the exposed Gore-Tex membrane would be easily contaminated from the inside of the garment. 2 layer construction is chosen for alpine skiers because it is a quieter fabric, drapes better and is softer. The disadvantage is that 2 layer construction is usually heavier because of the required lining and slower to dry when wet. There is also a "3-ply laminate" that uses laminated hydrophilic lining layer to wick water into the fabric where it evaporates as body heat rises. That, combined with the fact that water molecules can never penetrate the outer layer, are what made this construction accepted worldwide as the leader in action sports apparel technology. Gore-TexR 2 Layer Fabric is the brand name of the original product - now more than 20 years old - while Gore-TexR 3 Layer Fabric is a more durable, higher abrasion resistant, slightly less breathable version intended for winter conditions, extended use, and alpine mountaineering. Gore Activent?: Membrane laminated to various fabrics for windproofing breathability. This membrane breathes better than most other Gore products but at the expense of being less waterproof. Instead, it is water resistant, meaning that because of un-taped seams and larger pores in the fabric,there is more room for water vapor to escape from the garment, but also more room for water molecules to be pushed into the garment in heavy weather. Gore-Tex DryLoft?: Insulation helper. A tear-resistant combination of fabric and Gore laminate allows perspiration to escape and helps prevent down insulation from becoming wet from outside elements. Developed specifically for sleeping bags, this material is much more vapor permeable than Gore-Tex fabric. Overall, a much drier insulation is the result, mainly due to reduced condensation in the insulation, be it down or synthetic. Other advantages are that DryLoft is lighter, more supple, and quieter than its Gore-Tex equivalent. Gore-Tex XCR: Extended Comfort Range. This heavier duty version of Gore-Tex is more breathable due to an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane and new lamination techniques. XCR is much more breathable in its two-layer form than traditional Gore-Tex, and nearly twice as breathable in its three-layer form than traditional Gore-Tex. The new XCR membrane is laminated between an outer face fabric and an inner mesh knit. Because the inner mesh is part of the fabric, there's no separate hanging liner. This equals less heat build-up, less bulk when layering, fast drying time and a significant savings in weight. This is the hardshell material of choice for the majority of the top clothing companies, including Marmot, The North Face, Mountain Hardwear and Arc'teryx. Gore-TexXCR Stretch: A combination of a nylon Lycra knit and the Gore-Tex XCR laminate. Together they form a breathable and more stretchable fabric. This is basically the same shell material but because of the Lycra it is designed give the fabric more stretch mobility than traditional shells to fit skiers who want a greater range of motion. H2No Storm HB ?: Patagonia's proprietary waterproof, breathable monolithic membrane that comes as a three-layer laminate that can be used with almost any fabric, such as nylon or polyester. Primary uses are waterproof, breathable outerwear pieces. Using Toray's Entrant technology, H2No has a waterproof, microporous coating inside the liner which is paired with water-repellent finish (Deluge DWR) on the outside of the shell. High Density Taffeta: A 100% polyester filament plain weave fabric. It was developed to provide long lasting barrier protection for fluid, bacteria, and particle penetration. Used as an outer layer on garments. MemBrain: a proprietary Marmot waterproof/breathable family of performance fabrics. They are an exclusive, hydophilic, monolithic PU film application on a variety of fabrics, with the breathability and waterproofness of classic Gore-Tex, but with the highest water repellency rating in the industry: 80/100 (see DWR above). Available in a variety of fabrics, including stretch. Used in gloves, sleeping bags, bivy sacks, and outerwear. MicroShed?: Exclusive Solstice waterproof/breathable shell material for more than a decade now. Microporous polyurethane is enhanced with microscopic ceramic particles and applied in thin layers to the inside of a face fabric. The porous ceramic particles increase breathability in the microporous polyurethane by creating tiny holes that let moisture vapor escape but don't let water enter. Additionally, the particles add strength and surface toughness to the polyurethane, in high abrasion areas under pack straps or at the seat and knees. Microshed will not "bubble-up" or delaminate under normal use because of the strong bond between coating and fabric. The inside and outside surface of Microshed fabric, as well as individual yarn strands, are treated with a DWR product that repels water. Nylon ripstop Conduit? SL: Used by Mountain Hardwear, this is a soft, windproof, waterproof, breathable 2- or 3-ply fabric construction that allows body moisture vapor to escape while protecting insulation from incidental exterior moisture. Both utilize the Conduit membrane, a hydrophilic and hydrophobic combination of molecules that work in combination to draw moisture away from the body. The process actually accelerates as the moisture content rises inside the garment. The membrane is positioned between a tightly woven, lightweight nylon ripstop with its visually recognizable grid-like pattern that prohibits rips and tears from increasing in size, creating an intricate "fence" effect. With a 50 denier fabric, it provides a combination of durability, softness of hand, and light weight. Outlast?: Fibers, fabrics and foams that work as "thermal shock absorbers" by slowing your personal rate of temperature change. Outlast helps maintain your thermal equilibrium with Phase Change Materials (PCMs) that provide thermal regulation rather than thermal insulation. The PCMs are held in billions of micro-capsules that can be incorporated into variety of materials. Phase change refers to the process of going from one physical state to another - i.e. from a solid to a liquid. Outlast PCMs are substances that are calibrated to stabilize in a "slush" state (half liquid, half solid) within a specified performance range that is a few degrees below your normal, comfortable skin temperature. As your activity level increases, the solid component of the Outlast "slush" absorbs excess heat generated by your body. This keeps you cooler and extends the period of time before you start sweating. When you cool down, the PCMs change back from a liquid to a solid and the energy that was absorbed by while you were active is returned. Outlast fibers contain micro-capsules filled with PCMs right inside individual synthetic fiber strands that can be woven and knit into fabrics for use in base layers such as thermal underwear, socks and gloveliners. By Outlast Technologies. P.E.F.: Performance Enhancing Film. Patagonia-proprietary windproof and breathable monolithic film sandwiched inside fleece garments eliminates the need for a shell in windy conditions. This is a three- layer sandwich of fleece, Capilene-treated fabric, with P.E.F. (Performance Enhancing Film) between. Although not waterproof, it is very breathable. Polarguard 3D?: Polarguard is a continuous filament of polyester with a hollow core for increased insulation. Because the filament is continuous it keeps from pulling apart, has superior loft and doesn't separate or mat even when it's cold. Traditionally used as a synthetic fill for sleeping bags, its warmth is legendary. As Polarguard 3D, the filament denier has been decreased by 40 percent, so that the new insulation material is just as durable, only softer and more compressible, which also makes this a more attractive material for use in clothing. The finer denier and hollow core also results in less weight for the same loft. Made of 100% polyester, Polarguard 3D absorbs little moisture and retains loft even if wet and over a long period of time. PolartecR 100, 200, 300 Series: From Malden Mills, the kings of fleece, the 100, 200 and 300 Series fabrics are the reference standard for insulation fleece. In all of these products, the 100 percent brushed polyester velour construction creates air pockets that trap air and retain body heat while still retaining a breathability that does not restrict the movement of moisture vapor. The fabrics are available in a range of weights for manufacturers and end-users (i.e., You!) to find the right level of insulation for outdoor activities. 100 weight fleece are the lightest, provide lightweight warmth with next-to-skin comfort and moisture management. The 300 weight fleece are the heaviest and provide a warm thermal layer for very cold activities. The fabrics breath, resist odor-causing bacteria with an anti-microbial finish, and are non-pilling. They can also be manufactured as either single or double-face fleece constructions for more insulation, and with waterproof, windproof and stretch components for more specific usage. PolartecR 200, 300 BiPolar Series: Malden Mills fleece manufactured with a durable low-velour outer layer for weather protection and a lofty shearling inner layer that traps heat, providing thermal insulation. The outer surface sheds water and snow, dries quickly, and resists wind. Polartec Power Dry?: Patented bipolar construction with a soft inner layer that rapidly wicks moisture away from the body and a durable outer layer that spreads moisture for maximum evaporation. The brushed inner surface creates many "touch points" that are hydrophilic to wick sweat into the fabric and away from the skin. When the sweat reaches the outside of the fabric it spreads out and dries two times faster than cotton. Overall, Power Dry moves at least 30 percent more moisture away from the skin than other fleece products. Polartec Power Shield: Polartec soft shells technology. These are fleece garments that feature a tightly woven nylon face for abrasion resistance with a polyester velour back that traps air and provides high warmth-to-weight ratio. Polartec ACT blocks 98 percent of the wind and allows the remaining 2 percent to circulate in the garment and speed water vapor transmission. All Power Shield fabrics have DWR. Spandex versions offer 4-way stretch for unrestricted freedom of movement. These garments are designed to replace traditional fleece and PTFE shell systems for most outdoor clothing applications, thereby reducing the number of layers needed to insulate and protect your body from the elements. PolartecR Power StretchR: Malden Mills fleece with body-hugging four-way stretch with moisture management with two separate surfaces. The durable, non-pilling nylon outer surface resists abrasion, and the next-to-skin inner surface of soft velour pile wicks perspiration, keeping you dry. Power Stretch is available in either a more breathable or a more waterproof version. The first version wicks sweat away from the skin to keep you dry from the inside. The second is treated with a DWR to keep you dry from the outside. PolartecR WindblocR Series: Made by Malden Mills, these combine the maximum warmth of Polartec fleece with a windproof/water-resistant polyurethane barrier membrane that allows moisture vapor transmission and is completely wind and waterproof. breathable layer. Windbloc fabrics are engineered to minimize heat loss from exposure to wind and water, and to provide quiet performance and a non-restrictive feel. Also available as Windbloc ACT (Air Control Technology), that blocks 98 percent of the wind and allows the remaining 2 percent to circulate inside the fabric to speed up moisture transmission. ACT also has a breathable stretch-polyurethane membrane constructed with DWR to shed rain and snow. Polartec Thermal Pro: The most durable of the Polartec Thermal fabrics. The 100 percent polyester proprietary fibers and low-pile velour, pebbled, or shearling surface create a fabric that is at least 30 times more durable than bargain fleece. These offer excellent breathability and insulation and are often treated with a DWR finish. Precip? Technology: Marmot's proprietary PU coating waterproof/ breathable technology especially used for unlined garments. Combines hydrophobic and hydrophilic Polyurethane in a controlled microporous coating for waterproof performance and high breathability. The key to Precip is its barrier technology where the Polyurethane is impregnated with silicon dioxide particles. These particles create innumerable small, extremely consistent pores that allow water vapor molecules to pass out of the fabric while not letting larger liquid ones in. The silicon acts to keep the pores consistent for consistent moisture transport away from the skin. But it's greatly aided by a silk protein "top coat" called Dry Touch, that Marmot puts next to the skin. Dry Touch is hydrophilic, meaning that it likes water and actually absorbs bits of it away from the skin so that it can be transported to the outer layer. Primaloft One?: A polyester microfiber insulation developed for the U.S. Army as a durable, field-appropriate synthetic alternative to down. Primaloft mocrofiber yarns are nearly identical to the size and shape of down plumules, which results in the synthetic having nearly identical insulating properties as down when dry, and even better insulating properties when wet. Highly compressible, lightweight, durable and highly water repellent, it is best suited for gloves, midlayers and back-up, in-the-pack parkas. Because its individual microscopic fibers are water hating, Primaloft retains much of its ability to keep you warm, even when your jacket is soaking. While other synthetic insulations can lose as much as 60 percent of their thermal retention when wet, Primaloft loses little of its insulating ability when wet. The material is clustered to feel and hang like down inside of a jacket where its plush pile mimics down's thermal properties of heat storage. It is very compressible for packing away and lightweight. Also unlike down, the synthetic fibers retain their loft and are more resilient than feathers, so when you pull a Primaloft jacket out of the pack with just a shake it's fluffy again. By Albany International Corp. PTFE: Short for polytetrafluoroethylene, this product was first marketed as Teflon. This non-hydrophilic laminate gives superior waterproof performance while achieving high breathability compared to other waterproof/breathable coated or laminated fabric. In a breathable, waterproof fabric the PTFE membrane is the central component. With microscopic-sized holes, the PTFE allows water vapor to pass through the barrier, but blocks liquid water droplets from finding a way in. As a pellet, powder or resin this ubiquitous material can be used for everything from engine gaskets, to reducing dust levels or impregnating metal sheeting. By DuPont. RegulatorR: Made exclusively for Patagonia by Malden Mills, the Regulator R1, R2, and R3 fleece fabrics can be used together or individually as part of a layered storm system. The Regulator R1 base layer fabric is the lightest with open channels of fleece that allow easier sweat evaporation by wicking and channeling moisture to the outside of the fabric, a smooth jersey knit where sweat is spread over a wide surface area. The smooth surface also decreases the friction between clothes. Fleece pillars increase the overall fabric thickness for insulation. The R2 product is more like a sweater or insulation layer and is the most versatile of the pieces. It achieves high loft with low-density fabrics, and a high-loft pile face. It is light, with an open fleece stitch and silky sheen that makes it soft and compressible. The Regulator R3 is the thickest of the Regulator fabrics and has a smooth velour microfleece outer surface. It's much denser than the furry pile of the R2 with good wind resistance and can be worn as an outer layer provided you're ready to cover it with a hardshell if it gets wet or especially windy. Schoeller Dryskin Extreme?: A woven blend of nylon, Cordura, Lycra and Coolmax. It is a heavier stretch woven fabric with the added benefit of the Coolmax interior that wicks moisture away from the body. It also blocks moisture from coming in, because the fabrics are hydrophobic, therefore preventing water absorption. Furthermore, if there is a temperature gradient, the natural flow of vapor will be from warm to cold. So a warm body inside a Schoeller shell will drive moisture out, and the hydrophobic nature of the fabrics will further prevent any absorption of water meaning that as long as the wearer is active, they will stay dry. Because it is not a laminate, the size of the pores is much larger than any of the hardshell laminates and it has superior breathability over laminate waterproof/breathable fabrics. Schoeller Dynamic?: A woven blend of Nylon and Lycra that is lightweight, permanently elastic, wind, water and abrasion resistant, breathable and easy to care for. This has many of the same qualities of Dryskin Extreme but without the added wicking ability of Coolmax. Light and versatile. Soft Shell: An vague but trendy industry term used to describe a woven or knit fabric outer layer jacket that, generally, is wind proof and highly breathable, but not seam-sealed or water proof. It is most often constructed of stretch fabric, intended for active aerobic use. Versatile, intended to be worn all-day through all stages of a ski tour (up and down). Not intended to replace a "hard shell" in severe weather. Soft shell is a work-in-progress, re-defining common notions of dressing layers and systems. Spandura?: The yarn or a product made from the yarn where Cordura filaments are arranged around a Lycra core. The emphasis is on the abrasion resistance of Cordura as it makes up about 97 percent of the mix. This means Spandura is tough. That little 3 percent of Lycra gives the product a more natural look and much better flex. It's also quick to dry and wind resistant. Often used in making pants. 3xDRY?: Schoeller fabric is a combination of hydrophobic finish on the outside and highly hydrophilic finish on the inside. It gives a maximum drying effect to pick up moisture on the inside of the fabric and disperses it out to a large area to quickly evaporate during activity. Supplex?: Woven fabrics made of the same-name DuPont air textured, nylon, multi-filament yarn. Supplex looks and feels like cotton, but has the lightweight, fast-drying, breathable, wind, water and tear resistant properties of nylon. Can be blended with other materials like Lycra for uniform stretch and recovery with a soft inner surface for added loft and a super soft hand. Supplex is credited with transforming the notion of "stiff" and "noisy" with all nylon fabrics Sympatex?: Windproof, waterproof, breathable modified fabric made out of nonporous polyester. It is also produced as a nonporous membrane of hydrophilic film that can be laminated onto another fabric. Sympatex comes as three-ply laminates, linings, and inserts for outerwear, footwear, gloves, and other accessories. Since it is a solid, non-porous film, Sympatex is impervious to water. What makes Sympatex unique are the hydrophilic (water-loving) molecular zones that have been built into the membrane. When perspiration takes place on the inside of a garment, it begins to evaporate. Since the temperature and humidity inside an article of clothing are higher than on the outside, there is a driving force from the inside to the outside. The free-floating moisture vapor molecules from perspiration are driven through the hydrophilic zones in the Sympatex membrane to the outside of the garment where they can evaporate, leaving the inside dry and comfortable. Available as Elastic, for stretch, as Transactive, for two and three-layer construction, and as Windliner for windproof breathability. By Sympatex Technologies. Synthetic Fibers: Fibers created from man-made polymers. This includes the majority of products and definitions in this review as science continues to contribute to the comfort of the backcountry skier. The noticeable exceptions are silk, wool, the natural properties of which continue to benefit from new weaves and synthetics like those incorporated in the Ibex line, and the whipping boy of high-tech winter apparel: cotton. Taslan?: This is a DuPont trademark for the air texturizing and bulking process on synthetic/thermoplastic yarns. Yarns that have undergone this process are said to have been TASLANIZED. Also applies to a fabric woven from these air-textured yarns. Tactel HT?: Lightweight, high-tenacity nylon yarn that is unbelievably abrasion-resistant. Originally developed by DuPont to meet the performance needs of parachutes and hot air balloons, it only recently found its way into the ski apparel arena. A bomber strength to weight ratio, it also shows off the luster of a coat well. ThermaStat?: Hollow core polyester that has fast wicking vapor transporting characteristics. Typically used in long underwear, socks and gloves. By DuPont. Thermolite?: Hollow-core Dacron fibers trap warm air in the material as an insulation layer. DuPont literally invented the Dacron hollow-core fiber after finding the same structure in the fur of polar bears. This material creates high-loft insulation in jackets because of the trapped air and dries faster than most other insulating products because of the larger surface area of the fibers that spread the moisture out for faster evaporation. Thermolite beat cotton to the dry in tests by more than 50 percent. Typically used in base layers , turtlenecks, fleece and sweaters, as well as hats, gloves and outerwear lining. Thinsulate?: One of the original super thin, super warm insulation materials, Thinsulate was developed in the late 1960s and has been constantly refined since then. It is a blend of superfine olefine and polyester fibers as much as 10 times smaller than those in other synthetic insulations. Because they are so small, more can be packed into the same space where by sheer number they can be more efficient at trapping warm air that makes for more efficient insulation. Thinsulate stays dry in wet conditions because it also absorbs less than 1 percent of its weight in water. It is available in a number of different insulation weights for a variety of activities, starting at 40 grams for aerobic activities, 70 grams for moderate cold, 100 grams for very cold and 150 gram insulation for cold conditions where the wearer is generating a minimal amount of body heat on his own. Available in Lite Loft, Ultra and Flex insulations. By 3M. Triple Point Ceramic?: Used by Lowe Alpine, this hardshell material manufacturing process involves multiple high-pressure coatings and introduction of ceramic particles for breathability and durability. Polyurethane coatings are applied directly to the face, outer polyester or nylon fabrics of the garment, leaving no air pockets where moisture can be trapped. The coating introduces a ceramic bead which when rinsed, leaves behind millions of microscopic pores that allow air moisture to escape and keep water molecules from creeping in. In addition, a Dry Yarn layer where DWR is applied at the yarn and fabric level for integrated water repellency, is stitched into the garment. Third (it's Triplepoint, remember?) an additional Advanced Internal Moisture Management System (AIMMS) is achieved by adding an additional ceramic particle that catalyzes the movement of water at the molecular level through the fabric. As far as breathability goes, this allows water molecules to be transported to the surface of the fabric via the ceramic particle along with body heat and pressure. Underarm Zippers/Pit Zips: If you know what 4-55 air conditioning is in a car (i.e., roll down all four windows and drive 55 mph) then you understand pit zips. By putting a zipper under each armpit on a jacket, manufacturers basically let you roll the windows down for maximum ventilation. An especially valuable feature in slower breathing hardshells, this is also available in many soft shell designs and is the last step in breathability before you actually take the coat off. Velcro?: Invented when one of NASA's rocket scientists working on putting a man on the moon happened to look down and notice how well thistles and weeds seemed to grab hold of his knits, especially his socks. The hook of the weed fit the loop of the weave. So why couldn't a material do that? Velcro Corp. is built on that premise, making nylon fastening tape where a hook fabric grips a pile loop at a point on a cuff or jacket fronts where manufacturers want to reinforce a zipper line or don't want to use a snap, allowing a sleeve or zipper to be closed by matching one nylon pile fabric to another. Waterproof: Prevents the transfer of moisture via specially developed films and membranes with pores that are too small for water molecules to pass through them as well as taped seams that provide an impenetrable barrier to moisture transfer. Water-resistant: Not completely waterproof. Pertaining to fabrics that because of inherent hydrophobic properties or water barriers made of films or membranes are able to shed light snow and rain. In an effort to improve breathability with larger membrane pores and by eliminating taped seams, however, these fabrics are not completely waterproof and can wet out in heavy weather. Wicking: Process by which moisture is transported away from the body in a fabric. Typically, this means that a hydrophilic layer next to the skin must attract the sweat and begin passing that moisture through the membrane or fabric of the garment to the exterior where it can be evaporated. Otherwise the sweat must be pushed into the garment by body heat before it is transported and evaporated. Xalt - Xtreme Allweather Laminate Technology: High tech composite system that combines fabric and laminate technology for waterproof, breathable, windproof protection. A composite of synthetic materials is used to laminate a waterproof-breathable film to TacTel nylon to combine a very breathable system with the properties of a windproof and waterproof shell. A Durepel coating enhances the inherently waterproof fabric with a stain resistant finish. By Burlington Performance Fabrics. X-Static?: Silver-enriched fiber that naturally enhances anti-microbial performance in a fabric to keep the garment from getting stinky. Silver has natural anti-bacterial attributes that are structure specific. Any bacteria, virus, fungi, or protozoa lacking a sufficiently protective cell wall has no defense against silver. X-Static can be manufactured as everything from a microfiber to a full-blown fabric. By Nobel Fiber Technologies. -- ※ 來源:‧淡淡的山岳天 BBS bbs.tkumcc.idv.tw‧ ※ [FROM: sw67-188-96.adsl.seed.net.tw] -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.230.222.31