Outlast Technologies, a developer and producer of temperature regulating fabrics has launched a new fabric by blending PCM viscose fibres with down fibres to offer a solution for climate comfort in bedding and apparel products.
Outlast Technologies has combined heat and moisture regulating PCM viscose fibres with down fibres in the proportion of 30:70 to debut a product called ‘Universe’ to offer optimum thermal comfort.
According to Outlast, the downs display their advantages like lightness, fluffy volume and naturalness, while PCM viscose fibres regulate and optimize climate comfort, whereby, overheating and sweating are reduced significantly.
“In conjunction with our partner Kelheim Fibres, we are happy to have successfully obtained this new process - a homogeneous blend where both wash and care requirements are ensured,” says Martin Bentz, MD at Outlast Europe GmbH.
Volker Schuster, director R&D at Outlast Europe explains, “One important aspect is that all fibres inside a filling together build a huge surface and all fibres flow around by air, due to which every fibre can react very quickly to temperature changes.”
“Since the airflow is increased, this allows the PCMs to be more active in loading and discharging. As a result, temperature changes are minimized and sweating can be reduced significantly,” he adds.
“The new PCM filling material optimizes the climate proactively, contrary to other technologies that are merely transporting sweat and since Outlast technology is not a wicking technology, it manages moisture by reacting to sweat and pulling it away from the skin,” Outlast states.
By using the PCM viscose fibre and down blend, material costs of an end product in comparison to the use of 100 per cent down can be reduced while also offering an interesting added value and more performance. This offers a benefit to manufacturers as well as to consumers.
Outlast technology was originally developed for NASA to protect astronauts from temperature fluctuations in space. Outlast technology utilizes phase change materials (PCM) that absorb, store and release heat for optimal thermal comfort.
Outlast technology is comparable to ice in a drink; as it changes from solid to liquid, it absorbs heat and cools the drink, keeping that drink at the desired temperature for a longer period of time.
The PCMs have the capacity to absorb, store and release excess heat. This gives any product containing Outlast technology the ability to continually regulate skin’s microclimate. As the skin gets hot, the heat is absorbed, and as it cools, that heat is released. (AR)
