New technology can make a revolution in the manufacture of outerwear

The invention of a small American company Voormi may in the near future make the same revolution in clothing that the inventors of the Gore-Tex technology did at one time forty years ago. The new technology called Core Construction allows you to make single-layer, lightweight and comfortable outerwear that does not get wet, but at the same time allows the skin to "breathe."

The inventors of Gore-Tex, Wilbert and Robert Gore, in 1969 learned how to make a thin film of polytetrafluoroethylene (this polymer is also known as Teflon). The film turned porous and showed hydrophobic properties. Its pores are small enough not to let in water droplets, but at the same time they are large enough to allow water vapor to pass through. Thus, when using the film, it became possible to make waterproof shoes and clothing.


Gore-Tex Fabric
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However, when using such a film in clothing, it is necessary to make two-layer or even three-layer material. To strengthen the film, it must be glued to a denser matter - usually an outer layer is added to it for protection and lining. Naturally, such a construction impairs the membrane properties of the film and makes clothing heavier and more dense.



The uniqueness of the Voormi invention is that their film does not need such protection. They thread the material into a knitting machine, which creates a woolen cloth, piercing the film with threads. Know-how allows the material not only to preserve the membrane properties after such a process, but also to adjust the properties of the film, changing it for use in different climates - from cold and dry to hot and humid.



So far, a small company produces a small assortment of clothes (a jacket made of new material costs $ 400), but they plan to license technology for use by major clothing manufacturers for sports and tourism.