thinsulate again?

THINSULATE MAKING A COME BACK

This product was first introduced to the skiwear industry manufacturers in 1979. The following is the published explanation in Wikipedia.

Thinsulate fibers are about 15 micrometres (0.00059 in) in diameter which is thinner than the polyester fibers normally used in insulation for clothing such as gloves or winter jackets. Advertising material suggests that Thinsulate is more effective due to the increased density of fibers with decreased size of fibers compared with more traditional insulation.Like most insulation materials, the gaps between fibers not only reduce heat flow, but also allow moisture to escape. The insulation properties are beneficial for retaining some of the heat produced by the body for comfortable warmth while the moisture produced, most likely sweat, is supposed to evaporate.

The reality of what happens when you have a fiber made from polypropylene as thin as what is used for thinsulate originally never had the spacing that this definition states and it would collapse very quickly. Whatever insulating ability it originally has when made is lost very quickly. 3-M then worked with Celanese Corporation to make a special polyester fiber that they could blend with the polypropylene fiber. The purpose of adding the polyester fiber to the product was to bulk it up so the collapse of the polypropylene fiber was less. The blend as I recall was 65 percent polypropylene and 35 percent polyester. 3-M also referred to the weights of their product in grams and not ounces.

In the definition it is stated that the thinsulate fibers are denser than polyester fibers when made into a batting, which is true. However, the gaps between the fibers are almost non-existent which means that conductive heat loss is more prevalent than you have with polyester. Polyester fibers being farther apart do reduce heat flow. Now you know why polyester fiber was blended with the polypropylene fiber.

As for moisture escaping, that is a fallacy, just look or feel the interior of any boot that has thinsulate in it even without goretex and you will find moisture that simply cannot move through the thinsulate. As you know the retention of that moisture is the primary reason you have cold feet. As you note the moisture sweat (not most likely but is) is supposed to evaporate. Which we know does not happen.

Thinsulate after a few years lost favor with skiwear manufacturers as well as general outerwear manufacturers and went by the wayside. The product has held favor with glove and shoe company’s which is unfortunate since both products do not work.

Now I have read in the report of the goings on at the outdoor retailer trade show some companies are giving thinsulate a go. The people who operate these companies may very well have tried primaloft and found it does not do as claimed as well as having tried some other polyester fiberfill available in Asia so they are looking at the thinsulate product as their savior. These people were not around in the 1980’s when outdoor manufacturers who were actually manufacturing in the USA used it and found that it too did not do as advertised. History will repeat itself.

The new slogan for gore is “discover a whole new gore-tex brand world”. When you click on the web site from their ad in the online publication all you read is the same old stuff written slightly differently from yesterday. So what does the slogan mean?

The spyder skiwear company is showing a goretex jacket that is made from probably 50 parts and of course all parts are seamed together so the seams are taped and the insulation is thinsulate; 80 grams. 80 grams is equal to 2.8 ounces which is equivalent to the amount of Lamilite used by me for my socks and liner vest and jacket. This ski garment is at best acceptable for warm spring skiing. That way when you are good and soaked wearing the garment when you take it off you will not freeze. Cost is $600.00

We already know that the combination of these two components used in footwear does exactly what this garment will do, trap ALL moisture in the garment like it does in footwear.

Of course there are a multitude of companies showing footwear all with a film most of which is goretex.

The following blurb is offering a new company to me, primarily since they are located in Belgium.

Vetex NV, founded in 1897, is a family-owned company specializing in

the development and production of waterproof solutions for performance

apparel with an environmentally friendly approach. Based in

Belgium, its skilled R&D team is ready to analyze your challenges in

getting your garments or fabrics waterproof, flame retardant, and antimicrobial.

The production process is eco-friendly, with the company’s

own solar panel park providing electricity and heating up its factory

and offices. All machinery runs on green power.

Astounding all of the things they are capable of doing and they have been doing this stuff since 1897. Why haven’t I heard of them since I have been in the textile business for 54 years? Better late than never to learn who not to get involved with.

As you can see the number of people working in the outdoor industry needs someone to be there selling “thinking caps”!!!!