Waterproof and breathable fabric
Waterproof and breathable fabric
Waterproof and breathable fabric is a new type of textile fabric, which is composed of polymer waterproof and breathable material (PTFE membrane) and fabric. The main functions of waterproof and breathable fabrics are: waterproof, moisture-permeable, breathable, insulating, windproof, and warm. Its moisture permeability is 16,000g per square meter per 24 hours, its waterproof pressure can reach 8,000-20,000mm water column, and its insulation can reach 100,000 volts. The fabric can maintain its best performance in harsh environments and can adapt to temperatures from 427 degrees to minus 200 degrees. In terms of production technology, the technical requirements of waterproof and breathable fabrics are much higher than those of ordinary waterproof fabrics. At the same time, from a quality point of view, waterproof and breathable fabrics also have functional characteristics that other waterproof fabrics do not have. Waterproof and breathable fabrics not only enhance the air-tightness and water-tightness of the fabric, but also have unique breathable properties that can quickly discharge water vapor inside the structure, avoid mold breeding in the structure, and keep the human body always dry. It perfectly solves the problem of breathability, windproof, waterproof, It is a new type of fabric that is healthy and environmentally friendly.
There are two main types of waterproof and breathable fabrics: water-resistant and waterproof.
Water-resistant is divided into two types: fiber/cloth type (not windproof but good breathability) and membrane type (windproof but not good breathability); waterproof is generally membrane type, two or three layers, windproof, two layers It is softer and more breathable than the three-layer one, which is 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.
(I believe everyone who knows about waterproof and breathable materials knows this. At the same time, there are many explanations of these two fabrics on the Internet)
The more famous brands of this kind of fabric include: Toray Industries’ Dermizax (stretchable membrane), EntrantGII-XT; Burlington’s Xalt; MaldenMills’ Polartec series; and the familiar W.LGore & Associates’ Gore- Tex. There is another brand called Sympatex which is also very famous. I don’t know which brand it is from. Now there is a new brand coming out, which is a domestic clothing manufacturer called NSinvent waterproof and breathable fabric produced by Kaidong Technology. Their materials have been greatly updated in terms of functionality. Let’s introduce the two fabrics GORE-TEX and NSinvent.
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? (To put it simply: GE’s licensed factories can produce qualified clothing with gore-tex materials)
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 it is GORE-TEX or other fabrics, the breathability function is achieved through a layer of glue inside the fabric. Most of them are white, in order to allow moisture to escape from the body during exercise.�The fabric is exposed through this layer of glue (previous waterproof clothing had PVC bottoms, which could not breathe). 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.
The birth of innovative brand NSinvent
NSinvent functional film is an expanded polymer made of polytetrafluoroethylene resin through special processing techniques such as stretching
The sub-material is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane (expandedPTFE). White, elastic and flexible, with an ultra-micro mesh structure of “knots and fibers”. These micro-fibers form countless pores, and there are about 9 billion micropore “tunnels” under each square inch (about 6.45㎡) of the fabric. , arranged randomly and winding to the other side of the lining. The diameter of these micropores is one 20,000 times the size of a water droplet, but 700 times larger than water molecules. It is not only 100℅ waterproof, but also can effectively block The invasion of wind. Therefore, clothing made of NSinvent functional films has windproof, waterproof, breathable and other functions. Its products have been widely used in medical personnel, firefighters, military and emergency rescue, as well as hiking, skiing, cycling, golf and other indoor applications. with outdoor areas.
NSinvent fabric
It is made of NSinvent film and polyester fabric combined into one through special processing. Therefore, NSinvent fabric has good windproof, waterproof and breathable functions. In addition, it is thin, durable, and warm. Compared with the internationally renowned clothing fabric brand GORE, its waterproof performance is slightly worse, but NSinvent’s breathability is better than Gore-Tex. Since the two fabrics only differ in the diameter of the film micropores, their functional ingredients are both expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and the unique chemical inertness and thermal stability of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) make it resistant to Chemicals, anti-wear properties and strong resistance to high and low temperatures, as well as strong UV protection, ensuring its good stability and integrity in extreme environments.
Performance reference parameters
Breathability (AirPerm): [email protected]”WC, ASTMD737
Moisture breathability: (MVTR): 15000-25000g/m2/24h, JIS1099-B2
Water vapor transmission resistance (RET):3-5
Hydrostatic pressure resistance (before washing/after 50 hours of continuous washing): >10000mm, ISO811, AATCC127
Washing resistance (after 100 hours of continuous washing): Passed (no cracking, holes, bubbling, or delamination)
Washing shrinkage: 10000mm, ISO811, AATCC127
Washing resistance (after 100 hours of continuous washing): Passed (no cracking, holes, bubbling, or delamination)
Washing shrinkage:
Many people think that the waterproof performance of NSinvent is not much different from that of PU or PVC, but please don’t ignore one thing. The breathability performance of NSinvent is beyond their reach! sfgwefea
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