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Properties and performance of textiles

Gore-Tex® and Windstopper®

In the Area of study: Properties and performance of textiles you will develop knowledge and understanding of scientific and technological developments. In particular you will investigate innovations and technological advances in the use of textiles to enhance performance for specific end-use. One such innovation is the advanced technology utilised to produce Gore-Tex® and Windstopper® fleece clothing for a range of specific end-uses such as the outdoor leisure, workwear and protective wear market.

Outcomes
This material addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcome:

H3.2 The student develops knowledge and awareness of emerging textile technologies.

Source: Board of Studies NSW, Stage 6 Textiles and Design Syllabus, Preliminary and HSC Courses (2007)

This tutorial investigates innovative manufacturing techniques and materials used to produce high-tech fabrics for specific consumer and industrial end-use. You will use the activity questions and the information on the web sites to gain knowledge and understanding of the innovations and technological advances. You will also analyse and justify how the fabric and design meets the requirements for specific end-uses.

Gore-Tex®: high-tech fabrics

The Gore family produces Gore fabrics which are among the most durably waterproof, windproof and breathable fabrics produced today. The makers of Gore-Tex® guarantee the products will perform for their specific end-use, including industrial or consumer purposes. You will investigate how the innovative manufacturing techniques and materials make this possible.

The versatile polymer, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), is the basis for Gore's innovative solutions, it was discovered in 1938 at DuPont and is commonly known by the DuPont brand name Teflon.

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Activity 1

Go to The membrane Selecting this link will take you to an external site. and use the information to answer the following questions. The illustration of the magnified fibre web on this page represents an expanded PTFE Gore-Tex® membrane, magnified 5 000 times.

  1. A discovery, in 1969, changed the future of the company and enabled Gore to broaden its electronic product offerings to high-performance fabrics, among other products. What was that discovery?
  2. What amazing array of properties did Gore-Tex® expanded PTFE exhibit?

The technology

The discovery of this expanded PTFE Gore-Tex® fibre with those amazing array of properties has made possible the production of Gore-Tex® high-tech fabrics that are durable, waterproof, windproof and breathable.

Activity 2

  1. What is the key to the performance of Gore-Tex® high-tech fabrics?

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The fabric and its properties

Typically Gore-Tex® protective outerwear uses a fabric constructed from three layers which are bonded together, with the breathable Gore-Tex® membrane sandwiched between a robust outer textile and an inner double-knit fabric.

The result is a light, strong, waterproof, windproof, breathable garment that is completely self-lined.

A two-layer fabric without the knit is employed for less heavy-duty applications, where the garment is lined with a conventional lining.

How does Gore-Tex® fabric actually work?

The Gore-Tex® membrane technology is specifically engineered to form an impenetrable barrier against wind and water while maintaining breathability.

Activity 3

Explain how Gore-Tex® fabric is:

  1. breathable Selecting this link will take you to an external site.
  2. windproof Selecting this link will take you to an external site.
  3. waterproof Selecting this link will take you to an external site..

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Windstoppper ® fleece

Gore is set to take on the windproof and breathables market with its latest launch: Windstopper glacier fleece IV. The product has been given a complete category refocus with products from the five different applications released in autumn 2001 across the outdoor industry. Each of the five fabrics in the Windstopper® fabric portfolio:

  • fleece
  • shell
  • knit
  • liner
  • wool

has been developed in niche applications, offering absolute windproofness combined with high levels of breathability, with the ultimate consumer benefit of greatly improved comfort, whatever the end-uses. (Gore, 2001: http://www.gore-tex.co.uk/published/gfe_navnode/gb.prod.ws.out.n2.html Selecting this link will take you to an external site.)

Activity 4

Use the following web pages to answer the two sets of questions. The questions will help you to learn more about Windstopper® fleece, its properties and specific end-use.

http://www.gore-tex.co.uk/published/gfe_navnode/gb.prod.ws.out.n2.html Selecting this link will take you to an external site.

  1. What is Windstopper® fabric?
  2. Why should I worry about cool air penetrating to my body?
  3. What's windproofness?
  4. What kinds of products are made with Windstopper® fabric?
  5. How does Windstopper® fleece compare to other windproof fleece?
  6. Do Windstopper® fabrics lose their windproofness?
  7. How is Windstopper® fabric different from Gore-Tex® fabric?

Answers are found on the web site.

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Tailor made for specific end-use

Gore-Tex® outerwear, footwear, and accessory designs and Windstopper® fabrics are subjected to field testing and extensive in-process and final quality tests to ensure performance in use for the outdoor leisure, workwear and protective wear market. The Gore Technical Advisory Service will carry out a full analysis of a work situation, including video field studies where necessary, to establish what fabric and design will produce the most effective workwear and protective wear. Quality tests to ensure performance in use include tests for waterproofness, abrasion, flex, moisture vapor transfer, and comfort.

 

Activity 5

Write a 200-word report on the following question. Select Activities Selecting this link will take you to an external site. on the web site to supplement the information already provided in this tutorial to answer the question.

Choose a specific end-use, for example, law enforcement, firefighting, military applications, backpacking, fishing, sailing for Gore-Tex® or Windstopper® products. Suggest a suitable fabric and garment for this specific end-use. Compare and contrast the use of Gore-Tex ® and Windstopper® to the more traditional fabrics used.

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Activity 1 answers

  1. PTFE could be stretched to form a strong, porous material.
  2. It is chemically inert, has a low friction coefficient, functions within a wide temperature range, does not age, and is weather durable. It is also porous, air permeable, extremely strong, hydrophobic, and biocompatible.

Activity 2 answers

  1. The membrane. It contains nine billion randomly spaced microscopic pores per square inch. Each pore is 20 000 times smaller than a water droplet and 700 times bigger than a water vapour molecule. The pores allow perspiration vapour to escape, but block out wetness and cold winds, thus achieving the highest comfort factor possible over the widest operation range of climate and activity.

Activity 3 answers

  1. Gore-tex is breathable because it aids the body's natural cooling process by allowing perspiration vapour to escape.
  2. Gore-tex is windproof because wind is repelled by the outer fabric.
  3. Gore-tex is waterproof because water cannot penetrate the surface of the outer fabric. The fabric is totally waterproof.

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