What waterproof and breathable fabrics are there?
What waterproof and breathable fabrics are there?
Note that there are two types of waterproof and breathable fabrics: water-resistant and waterproof. The former is divided into two types: fiber/cloth type (not windproof but good breathability) and membrane type (windproof but poor breathability); the latter is generally film-permeable. Type, two or three layers, windproof, two layers are softer and more breathable than three layers, while three layers are stronger. Water-resistant or highly water repellent fabrics will seep when pressure is applied to them, such as when you sit on a wet stool wearing pants made of this material. The more famous brands of this kind of fabric include: Toray Industries’ H2OFF (fiber type), Azeculla, Toraydelfy (permeable membrane type); W.L. Gore & Associates’ company: Active (permeable membrane type) and Patagonia’s H2Ho, etc.
The development of completely waterproof and breathable fabrics (waterproof) began in the late 1970s. The current second generation products are completely waterproof and windproof and maintain good breathability. However, garments made of this kind of fabric are not necessarily completely waterproof, mainly because of water seepage in seams or zippers. To ensure that the garment is completely waterproof, you need to tape all the seams (good garments use waterproof tape). This requires a lot of labor and cost, which is one of the reasons why such clothes are so expensive. The more famous brands of this kind of fabric include: Toray Industries’ Dermizax (stretchable membrane), Entrant GII-XT; Burlington’s Xalt; Malden Mills’ Polartec series; and the familiar W.L Gore & Associates’ Gore-Tex. There is another brand called Sympatex which is also very famous. I don’t know which brand it is from.
It should be emphasized that the use of waterproof and breathable materials does not necessarily guarantee the comfort of the wearer. According to the principle of moisture transmission, breathability and comfort depend to a large extent on the difference in temperature and humidity between the inside and outside of clothing. The drier and colder the outside, the better the breathability. As the outside temperature and humidity increase, moisture transmission also increases. Slowing down and stopping may even transfer moisture inside you
Which factory can produce clothing made of GORE-TEX fabric?
GORETEX fabrics are good, but there are currently few domestic manufacturers that meet GORETEX production standards. It is necessary to first explain how GORETEX tests manufacturers: GORETEX is a fabric manufacturer, and it also sells machines (heat sealing machines) for attaching special adhesive strips for sewing and lamination strips. You don’t have to have money to buy fabrics from GORETEX. , they have to send personnel to inspect the company’s production status and product quality after the manufacturer applies for it, for a period of one year, and there is also a corresponding deposit (20,000 US dollars in 1996). After passing the customs, GORETEX will provide fabrics and glue to the company. Strips and free heat sealing machines (5 to 10 units) for production. As far as I know, there are currently only two factories in Dongguan and one factory in Nanjing that are authorized by GORETEX. They produce German brand-name goods and resell them (by the way,
BIG-PAK is produced in Nanjing, so don’t think you are buying authentic German products). Most of the GORETEX clothes you see on the market are made in Taiwan.
Are there any limitations to GORE-TEX?
In fact, there is nothing big about GORETEX fabric. It is just that it is both waterproof and breathable. The standard for waterproofing is water pressure resistance. How many MM of water columns can it withstand per square centimeter for one hour without water seepage? The standard for breathability is permeability. Humidity, the amount of water that can permeate per square centimeter in 24 hours; ordinary GORETEX fabrics can be waterproof to 2000mm and breathable to 3000mm. Currently, some manufacturers in Taiwan and South Korea can do this, and even waterproof 4000 and breathable 6000 The price of this fabric is between 4 and 7 US dollars per yard. The quality is definitely there, but it is not as famous as GORE-TEX.
One thing that needs special explanation is that whether GORE-TEX or other fabrics, the breathability function is achieved through a layer of glue inside the fabric. Most of them are white, so that moisture from the body can pass through this layer of glue during exercise. (Previous waterproof clothing had PVC bottoms, which were not breathable). However, the condition for moisture permeability is: the humidity outside the fabric is lower than the inside of the fabric! In other words, if the humidity outside the clothes is higher than the humidity inside the clothes, not only will the moisture not be discharged, but it will also seep back into the clothes! Of course, there is water-repellent (waterproof) treatment on the surface of the fabric, and the degree will be reduced accordingly.
Disclaimer:
Disclaimer: Some of the texts, pictures, audios, and videos of some articles published on this site are from the Internet and do not represent the views of this site. The copyrights belong to the original authors. If you find that the information reproduced on this website infringes upon your rights, please contact us and we will change or delete it as soon as possible.
AA
