Material primaloft. Polyester fiber insulation

Over the past few years, the outdoor clothing market has experienced a real boom in the emergence of new insulation technologies. In autumn 2013, the first products from Polartec Alpha, in the winter of 2013-2014 - items from the company appeared in stores The North Face with insulation Primaloft Thermoball, and companies Columbia And Arcteryx released jackets that combine down and synthetic insulation. At the same time, attempts to create clothes and accessories with electric heating and the use of materials that accumulate the heat of the human body do not end.

The reason for this lies not only in the attempts of manufacturers to increase the functionality of their products. The emergence of new insulation technologies based on microfiber synthetic insulation is associated with a noticeable rise in the price of raw goose down over the past five years. According to the American magazine Outside, a pound of raw white goose down cost $10 in 2009 and about $50 in 2014.

Hence the demand for the latest insulation technologies that could compete on equal terms with down products from developers and manufacturers of clothing and equipment for outdoor activities. Moreover, this demand will only grow in the near future, which implies the expansion of collections based primarily on synthetic insulation from most manufacturers. We will get acquainted with the properties of the newest of them.

Polartec® Alpha

Unlike other manufacturers of insulation and technological fabrics, Polartec approached the price crisis for down raw materials fully armed. Latest material Polartec Alpha was developed for military special forces in accordance with the requirements of the General Directorate of Special Operations Forces of the US Department of Defense (U. S. Special Operations Forces - SOF) long before its announcement on the civilian market in 2012. The first products with its use appeared in September 2013 from companies Rab, The North Face, Mountain Equipment, Montane and 66 North.

The SOF requirement was to create a lightweight, quick-drying, highly breathable clothing material that provides high thermal insulation and acceptable wind protection. According to the results of field and laboratory tests, the leader was Polartec Alpha.

While creating Alpha, the developers started from the main, in their opinion, the lack of existing heaters. So, for example, down and a significant part of microfiber synthetic insulation that imitates its structure are able to penetrate outward through the seams and fibers of the fabric. And this circumstance requires the manufacturer to use materials with a very dense weave of fibers in order to avoid the migration of insulation inside the product and its penetration to the outside. Such dense fabrics, unfortunately, are heavy and do not contribute to the rapid removal of sweat and excess heat from the body. All this can lead to overheating during active loads and, as a result, the risk of wetting the insulation from sweat.

Therefore, the emphasis was placed on the development of a comprehensive solution - a kind of "sandwich" of a durable outer layer, a modified insulation based on Polartec® Power Shield® High Loft and the most moisture-wicking lining material. Like Power Shield® High Loft, insulation Alpha is a wear-resistant long-fiber fleece, with the only difference that it is not laminated on the outer surface of the product, but is the filling of a fabric "sandwich". Such measures by the developers have led to the fact that the product dries much faster, about twice as fast as the closest competitors, and has a low weight.

Added to this is a very flexible approach. Polartec in relation to manufacturers - they will be able to choose the facial fabric on their own, from ultra-light materials such as Pertex, before softshell. All this determined the main scope of the material. Polartec Alpha- jackets used as an intermediate or top layer of clothing. The compromise in this decision was the ratio of heat / weight. According to most testers and outdoor publications, this Alpha still inferior to down and the latest development from Primaloft - Thermoball.

Polartec Alpha - Marmot Isotherm Hoody jacket, Rab Strata jacket and vest.

Primaloft® Thermoball™

The latest synthetic insulation from Primaloft, which very accurately copies the structure of the fluff. Outwardly, the novelty resembles a rolled up cotton ball, which served as the name - Thermoball. Until this development, all synthetic insulation was a mixture of hollow fibers that looked little like fluff in appearance and only partly repeated its properties. In the release of the new technology, The North Face announced that the new insulation will generally repeat the properties of Primaloft One, but will be 15% warmer per unit weight, corresponding to down with a Fill Power of 600. This means the ability to restore its volume after compression is equivalent to down and to hold an equivalent amount of air between the fibers, which serves as a thermal insulator. The North Face currently owns the right of exclusive use Thermoball in its products until 2015, as the company actively contributed to its development.

As in the case with Primaloft One, the developers have placed special emphasis on maintaining heat-insulating properties Thermoball when wet, which was confirmed by numerous tests in the field. Particularly distinguished tester Sean McCoy- the editor of the resource gearjunkie.com, thoroughly wetting his jacket ThermoBall Full Zip Jacket and went for a walk in it at an air temperature just below zero. The new material passed the test with brilliance, surprising even such a sophisticated user. The editors of the Outside magazine also came to a high assessment, naming Thermoball"The most thermally insulating synthetic insulation they've ever tested."

Examples of products using Primaloft Thermoball– jackets and vests The North Face Thermoball Full Zip, bivouac and urban TNF shoes, which previously used 600 F.P. down.

Primaloft Down Blend

Despite the obvious successes in the field of improving synthetic insulation, they do not want to refuse the use of fluff even in Primaloft Inc.. However, all experts are well aware of its main disadvantages - low thermal insulation when wet and slow drying, to which the disadvantage mentioned above is added - a high price for the manufacturer, and, as a result, for the end user. Creation Primaloft Down Blend designed to overcome these shortcomings.

The essence of the technology comes down to mixing natural fluff and artificial fibers Primaloft Ultra Fine, close to it in the property to restore its volume after compression and retain the maximum amount of air between the fibers. In addition to this, the down is treated with a water-repellent composition. These measures made it possible to reduce the cost of the hybrid insulation without losing quality, to ensure acceptable thermal insulation properties of the wet mixture, and also to increase its drying rate by 4 times compared to ordinary fluff!

PrimaLoft ® Performance Down is available in two versions:

– PrimaLoft Gold Insulations Down Blend- Goose down 70% (feather down 90/10) - synthetic fibers 30%. 1.23 ClO dry versus 1.18 CLO wet.
– PrimaLoft Silver Insulations Down Blend- Duck down 60% (down feather 85/15) - synthetic fibers 40%. 1.14 ClO dry versus 1.07 CLO wet.

Thus, the new combined insulation corresponds in terms of its thermal insulation properties to high-quality down with an index of FP 750 and FP 600, respectively. At the same time, thanks to the inclusion of synthetics and moisture-repellent impregnation of down, it continues to work even when wet with virtually no loss.

Examples of products using Primaloft Down Blend- jacket Black Diamond Hot Forge(available spring 2015), jacket Adidas Outdoor Terrex Climaheat Ice Jacket.

"Infrared" insulation

PrimaLoft Kodenshi

Perhaps the most exotic way of warming clothes from all presented. Attempts to select or create from scratch the right material that could accumulate the heat of the human body, and then slowly return it back like a stone heated in the sun, have been made by manufacturers repeatedly. So far, no company has achieved unambiguous success, although developments are being carried out as industry giants - The North Face, and not so well-known brands, such as the American manufacturer of clothing and accessories for skiing powderhorn.

The experts closest to realizing this idea came from Picture Organic, a French manufacturer of eco-friendly clothing for skiers and snowboarders, with technology BioCeramic– the ceramic particles contained in the membrane material accumulate heat and slowly radiate it to the user of the equipment. However, the manufacturer himself positions this development not as an element of insulation, but as a technology that improves muscle tone.

Lamination of the membrane with ceramic particles is actively used by a young manufacturer of premium ski clothing mountain force. Their exclusive development Ceramic Membrane It has high thermal insulation properties, which makes it possible to provide additional comfort on a frosty slope without the need for an additional layer of insulation, which increases not only the weight of the product, but also its volume.

Ceramics have been used, by the way, for several years and in Primaloft. Their insulation Primaloft Ceramic And PrimaLoft Kodenshi made with the addition of ceramic microfibers to help reflect heat back to the body. Such a heater is much more efficient. Its main consumer is the company Goldwin. However, now you can also find products from other brands using PrimaLoft Kodenshi. Among them Black Diamond And Reusch using insulation in ski gloves and mittens.

Elasticity. With regard to heaters, this is the ability to restore the original structure, in fact, the volume. The structure of synthetic fibers most often recovers faster than down. This is partly why in down jackets it is not uncommon to make inserts with synthetic insulation in the shoulder area and on the sides of the jacket, where there is the most pressure.

But, despite technological progress, fluff is still the best insulation. Most often, goose down is used in the manufacture of down jackets - it is more durable than duck down, and also cheaper than eider down. Highly purified goose down has high Fill Power and is optimal in terms of price-quality ratio.

The review was prepared by store specialists

There are a large number of heaters that are used as a filler for winter jackets and other products. Goose down is endowed with the best characteristics, but its cost is very high, and in terms of care, it is quite picky. Only one artificial material Primaloft can compare with such natural insulation. Only it has a fiber structure very similar to down, has almost identical indicators in heat retention and moisture resistance. And how to wash Primaloft, so as not to spoil the inherent characteristics?

Primaloft is the only man-made fiber that is very similar in basic characteristics to goose down, a special permanent treatment against moisture is not washed off throughout the entire use of the product. This allows you to clean jackets and other goods with such a filler by ordinary washing, both by hand and in an automatic machine.

In order to qualitatively clean products with this type of filler, you should know some rules:

Like any synthetic fibers, washing is carried out at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees.
The use of powdered detergents is not welcome.
The use of bleach is strictly prohibited.
Places with strong pollution are pre-washed, it is not necessary to use a stain remover. It is enough to treat the sleeves, the collar, the area around the pockets with laundry soap.
It is better to wash with liquid detergents, they are better washed out of the fibers and do not clog the holes between them.
When washing by hand, you can’t unscrew the products, you can simply drive off the water with your hands and let the excess moisture drain on your own.

Pre-soaking of the product is allowed, it is carried out in warm water with the addition of laundry soap.

Preparatory process

Before washing, it is necessary to carry out some preparatory work. This is necessary so that the product is not damaged or deformed.

To do this, it is advisable to remove or wrap all fittings that do not fit tightly to the product.

The cleaning process is preferably carried out after the label with recommendations from the manufacturer has been studied. It clearly indicates at what temperature to wash, what products to use, how to remove stains.

Before washing, be sure to check the pockets, pull out all the contents from them.

Zippers and buttons are carefully fastened, it is desirable to unfasten the buttons on the contrary.

Handwash

For manual cleaning, you need a large container of water, the bathroom is best suited for this purpose. The purification process is carried out as follows:

The required amount of detergent is dissolved in warm water, the product is placed.
Strong pollution is additionally treated with laundry soap, for very strong, you can use a soft brush.
Leave the product in the water for a while.
Pull out the thing and let the water drain a little.
They drive off excess water.
Rinse in several waters.
Let the water drain, but do not twist

Cleaning in the washing machine

The washing machine is faster and better to cope with the task. Cleaning a product with Primaloft as a filler consists of the following steps:

The prepared product with the stains removed is loaded into the drum.
Set the delicate washing mode at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees.
Spin rates should be around 600 rpm.
Liquid detergent is poured into the powder compartment.
They start the car.

Then for some time you can go about your business, when it comes to rinsing it is better to be present. It is advisable to set an additional rinse and add conditioner to the water at the second. This little trick will help get rid of electrification, save volume, and allow the product to dry faster.

Drying

We figured out how to wash Primaloft, but how to dry it in order to maintain a presentable appearance of the product? Like other synthetic insulations, Primaloft can go astray if it is simply hung on a clothesline, color lining can fade in direct sunlight, white can turn yellow.

In order for the product to retain all its parameters, it is advisable to dry it in a horizontal position, away from direct sunlight and heating devices, including electric heaters. The prostrate Primaloft will release moisture faster, while there will be no creases and folds on the product.

Washing Primaloft is identical to the cleaning procedures of any artificial fiber. If you follow the instructions exactly, then the product will delight you for a long time with an excellent appearance and retain its warming properties.

Synthetic insulation PrimaLoft© was developed by Albany International for the US Army as a quality replacement for down for workwear and sleeping bags. To date, PrimaLoft insulation has reliably conquered the market not only for army clothing, but also for the outdoor market.

First of all, PrimaLoft© insulation is lightweight and durable, and also has excellent thermal insulation properties. In addition, PrimaLoft is highly breathable, and its hygienic properties far exceed those of ordinary goose down. Such excellent results have been achieved due to the thermal properties of the new PrimaLoft microfibers, whose structure has been copied from goose down microfibers. Thus, the thermal resistance of goose down is 2.18, and for PrimaLoft insulation - 2.15, which indicates better thermal insulation of synthetic insulation compared to down. So far, not a single widely used synthetic insulation has come close to such indicators.

PrimaLoft insulation is great as a filler for outerwear or a sleeping bag, as it is lightweight and has a volume comparable to that of down. Compared to goose down, PrimaLoft insulation is water-repellent and hypoallergenic. Researchers at Albany International have also achieved excellent breathability properties of the insulation due to microscopic air gaps. On the surface of PrimaLoft microfibers, due to their very small size, air molecules accumulate, which provide high thermal insulation properties of the insulation with a relatively thin insulating layer. Thanks to these hollow fibers of large diameter, the so-called "Loft" is maintained during prolonged use, washing, compressing and drying.

Several types of PrimaLoft insulation are used in the outdoor industry:

- PrimaLoft© One

- PrimaLoft® Sport

- PrimaLoft Eco

- PrimaLoft Eco Footwear

- PrimaLoft Infinity

- PrimaLoft Yarn

- PrimaLoft SYNERGY

The following diagram shows R-value - the value of the thermal resistance of the insulating layer. Specified in CLO. The higher the R-value, the better the thermal insulation properties of the material.

PrimaLoft One

insulation PrimaLoft© One most often used as a heater, both for urban clothing and outdoor clothing for outdoor activities. In the production of PrimaLoft© One insulation, ultra-thin microfibers are used, which allow maintaining the thermal insulation properties of the insulation with low weight and volume. The thermal insulation properties of PrimaLoft© One are 0.92 clo/oz/yd2 dry and 0.9 clo/oz/yd2 wet (the higher the thermal insulation performance of the material, the higher the thermal insulation value). It is PrimaLoft© One that retains the greatest thermal insulation and practically does not lose it when wet. It protects against wind and dries faster than goose down.

Application of PrimaLoft© One:

Outerwear
Hats (Hat Men's Outdoor Research Inversion Beanie)
Gloves (Black Diamond Enforcer Gloves)
Accessories
Sleeping bags
Overalls
Shoes

PrimaLoft Sport

insulation PrimaLoft® Sport used for the production of clothing and products for extreme conditions, as this type of insulation is thinner and lighter. The thermal insulation properties of PrimaLoft© Sport are 0.79 clo/oz/yd2 dry and 0.72 clo/oz/yd2 wet.

Application of PrimaLoft® Sport:

Outerwear (Pants Splav "Quantum", Trousers Splav "Highlander")
Hats
Overalls (Jumpsuit Marmot 8000M Suit)
Sleeping bags (Double sleeping bag Splav "Double 300", Sleeping bag Splav Fantasy 233)
Military clothing

PrimaLoft Eco

PrimaLoft Eco- a heater created for lovers of environmental materials. It is made from 50% recycled ultra-fine fibers and standard PrimaLoft fibers. In combination, the fibers create an effective heat-insulating and moisture-resistant structure. Clothing made with PrimaLoft Eco will keep its wearers dry, warm and comfortable.

Application of PrimaLoft® Eco:

Outerwear

PrimaLoft Eco Footwear

The eco-friendly PrimaLoft® thermal insulation option contains at least 50% recycled ultra-fine fiber material and combines with standard PrimaLoft® fibers to create a thermally efficient and water-resistant insulation structure. Due to the increased softness and ease of insulation, shoes that use PrimaLoft® Eco Footwear keep you dry and comfortable

Application of PrimaLoft® Eco:

Shoes (Boots "Dixon" , Boots "Cobra" , Leather boots Splav "England" , Boots "Wolverine")

PrimaLoft Infinity

PrimaLoft Infinity are heat-insulating blocks that can compress 20% more than similar insulating materials. This type of insulation has a fairly light and soft structure due to the use of ultra-thin fibers in the production. PrimaLoft Infinity has high thermal insulation and moisture resistance. The fibers, united among themselves by a single thread, prevent the appearance of cold spots in the insulating material and ensure the uniformity of the insulation structure over its entire surface. PrimaLoft Infinity provides excellent protection from the cold even when completely wet. This material retains its shape and quality even after numerous washes and dryers.

Application of PrimaLoft® Infinity:

Outerwear

PrimaLoft Yarn

PrimaLoft Yarn- These are threads that are a mixture of PrimaLoft fibers and sheep's wool. This combination is most suitable for the manufacture of outerwear. PrimaLoft Yarn fibers are half the size of cashmere fibers for a softer feel. This material has the property of quickly absorbing moisture from the surface of the skin and bringing it to the surface of the fabric, and this provides additional dryness and comfort.

Application of PrimaLoft® Yarn:

Outerwear
Socks (Lorpen SPFL Ski Primaloft Lightweight Thermal Socks (851))

PrimaLoft SYNERGY

PrimaLoft SYNERGY is an advanced thermal insulation material, which is created on the basis of weaving thin and ultra-thin fibers and combining them into a single thread. The insulation has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. PrimaLoft SYNERGY is a moisture resistant material used in the manufacture of sleeping bags and outerwear.

Application of PrimaLoft® SYNERGY:

Outerwear
Sleeping bags

Follow these care instructions for garments made with PrimaLoft insulation. Machine wash and rinse in cold water on a delicate cycle. Tumble dry at medium temperature on a gentle spin cycle. Dry cleaning, bleaching, ironing or steaming is prohibited.

Originally developed for the US Army, PrimaLoft insulation is now used by many brands. The company offers several variations of thermal insulation, from maximum, designed for harsh conditions, to lightweight - for the city. The North Face was one of the first to pay attention to Primaloft Black technology. It is a waterproof synthetic alternative to down filling. It is quite light and suitable for casual wear, jackets and boots. Insulation also often uses the Helly Hansen brand.

Primaloft Black Features

Primaloft has been making synthetic microfiber insulation since the 1980s. Insulation is engineered to mimic all the properties of down, but with less weight, bulk and no loss of properties when wet. The fibers do not retain water, so the wearer of such equipment remains dry and warm, regardless of the weather. The essence of the technology is to create many air pockets that actually trap and retain body heat.

Primaloft has three main types of insulation: Gold, Silver and Black. And if the first and second are more related to serious equipment for harsh conditions, then the latter is applicable in everyday life.

Primaloft Black is most suitable for everyday wear. It has a CLO rating of 0.65. This is a unit of measure for the thermal insulation properties of a product. For example, a down filler with an indicator of 550 will have a rating of 0.7. That is, a jacket with Primaloft Black is equivalent to a warm down jacket.

There are three types of Black insulation in total. All of them are breathable, moisture resistant and provide warmth without extra bulk.

PrimaLoft Black Insulation Eco- Lining made from 60% recycled material. It is obtained from the recycling of plastic bottles, bags and other raw materials.

PrimaLoft Black Down Blend Made from 50% synthetic fibers and 50% down. Due to this, the loss of thermal insulation properties when wet is minimized, but the jacket is more voluminous due to down.

PrimaLoft Black Insulation Hi-Loft with fibers that provide high insulation, similar in feel to down fill, but it is not. The insulation is more compact and softer, while all key properties, such as warmth when wet, are fully preserved.

For the new winter season, the company announced PrimaLoft® Black Insulation ThermoPlume. It is made using small, silky bundles of fibers that are joined together. Such a filler is suitable as an intermediate layer for climbing equipment, as well as for warm urban jackets.

Clothing Primaloft Black

The North Face brand, known for its collections of warm and durable clothing, quite often resorts to the use of synthetic filling. Their jackets are lightweight yet keep you warm in cold and wet weather. When choosing outerwear, you should pay attention to these characteristics. The North Face Primaloft Black uses mainly 60, 80 and 100 grams. Of course, the more popular “silver” insulation is more common, as it is equally good for outdoor activities and the city. It is placed in the iconic Back To Berkeley boots and an array of jackets. However, Primaloft Black is even lighter and is used in demi-season clothing during the period when winter gives way to spring or warm autumn turns into frost.

PrimaLoft® Sport is a high quality insulation made with technologies that combine ultra-fine fibers and variable diameter fibers for maximum thermal insulation performance.

PrimaLoft® Sport - The technology behind PrimaLoft® Sport combines ultra-fine and variable diameter fibers to achieve these characteristics. Specially processed ultra-fine fibers provide a water-repellent structure, while variable diameter fibers help shape the material.

If your desire for a great weekend is to spend it in nature, PrimaLoft ® Sport allows you to feel comfortable, like you are at home, even when it gets wet.

When creating Primaloft®, Albany Interional carefully studied the structure of goose down microfibers and copied it. The ultra-fine fibers of this material are similar to the structure of goose down fibers more than any other synthetic fiber. The similarity to goose down gives this fiber the thermal properties of down. The thermal resistance factor for down is 2.18 and for "Primaloft" 2.15. Other well-known synthetic materials do not even come close to such indicators.

Due to its long-fibre, down-like structure, the filling regains its volume better than other materials, even after many washes and dries. The water repellency of the microfibers helps any liquid run off or evaporate, allowing the Primaloft® wearer to stay dry and warm at all times.

Scientific tests have shown that "Primaloft®" has the same softness as down and is significantly softer than other synthetic fibers. Due to the softness of this fiber, clothes made from it fit perfectly, and a blanket or sleeping bag hugs the body of the sleeper. Try the sample to the touch, and you yourself will feel how magnificent it is! This wonderful material not only repels water and retains volume when wet, it is breathable, allowing moisture to escape. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release moisture from the inside. A small amount of "Primaloft®" is quite enough to accumulate human heat. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume. In these parameters, it surpasses both synthetic and natural materials.

Of the world brands - heaters, only PrimaLoft® has the property of not retaining moisture due to the silicone treatment of the fibers. As can be seen from the table, the greater the number of fibers, the more the insulation absorbs moisture:

PrimaLoft PL1 - 75%
PrimaLoft Sport - 400%
Polarguard 3D - 500%
Thinsulate LiteLoft - 995%
MicroLoft (DuPont)-1730%