13 November 2009, Tiverton, Devon – UK manufacturer of warp
and weft knitted fabrics, Heathcoat Fabrics Ltd, have introduced Coolmax into
their collection of high tech spacer fabrics, which offer maximum and permanent
evaporative cooling to users such as police or military. The next-to-skin side
of the spacer fabrics are made from Coolmax polyester fibres from Advansa with
an increased surface area. The fibres which have unique shaped channels in
their cross section, create a transport system that pulls moisture away from
the skin to the surface of the fabric and ensures that it evaporates fast,
thereby helping to maintain a balanced body temperature.
The physiological advantages of the high-tech fibres that
were originally developed for multifunctional textiles for sportswear are now
being used more and more in police and military applications. This is hardly
surprising as the end-user requirements are comparable; keeping the wearer dry
and providing good wearer comfort over long periods of time.
Spacetech fabrics are said to be exceptionally good when
used as the inner layer of body armour and in pieces of kits such as rucksacks
and web gear. Heathcoat says that it keeps the moisture management layering
system working from the underwear, through the various layers right up to the bulletproof
jacket. This allows space for evaporated moisture to exit the armour without
condensing back inside, as tends to happen when the body armour is tightly
compressed against the body without leaving space between the ballistic
protection and the apparel.
Heathcoat’s latest innovation incorporates Coolmax freshFX
fabrics which, through non migratory silver ion technology, actively suppress
the growth of bacteria which can be the root cause of body odour and smells
related to perspiration on garments.
Advansa, Heathcoat’s fibre supplier says that by
incorporating silver based additive to Coolmax, the resulting fabric supplies
not only an antimicrobial effect but also a permanent freshness feeling to the
user. With Coolmax freshFX not just sweat, but also the odour from sweat is
removed so users feel cool, dry and fresh, even during the heaviest exertion,
the company says.
Jordi
Lopez of Advansa commented, “We are really excited that Coolmax freshFX fabrics
are used in Heathcoat’s Spacetec , for technical end uses such as body armour with
outstanding moisture transport and anti-bacterial performance.
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