Sympatex
Sympatex (trademark of Sympatex Technologies GmbH) is an originally developed by Enka Glanzstoff AG in Wuppertal function textile which is permeable to water vapor but not liquid water. It's about a 5 to 25 micron thick membrane applied to a textile carrier material ( = laminated ) is in clothing and footwear and protects against moisture.
Contains The Sympatex membrane, unlike, for example, Gore- Tex, no pores. It consists of environmentally harmless polyether ester, a concatenation of polyester and polyether molecules, and is thus environmentally and skin-friendly and as a PET bottle recycled. Many membranes are made of PTFE ( polytetrafluoroethylene), may be released during production, landfill and incineration as its ecologically problematic existing connections.
The high breathability ensure hydrophilic molecular building blocks in the otherwise hydrophobic membrane. The hydrophilic (water -attracting) elements of the Sympatex membrane absorb moisture from the body and release it through evaporation outwards from: Through a physico-chemical process are incurred for the transpiration of water vapor molecules - such as in a billiard system - transported along the molecular chains to the outside. This effect increases with the temperature and humidity difference between the membrane sides. The higher the temperature and humidity differences between indoors and outdoors, the more moisture is passed through the membrane. The effectiveness will therefore demand -oriented: the more you sweat, the more moisture can transport the membrane to the outside. According to Hohenstein Institute, the Sympatex membrane "very good" (Ret <6) exceeds the classification = extremely breathable with a Ret <1.5.
Even dirt particles or surfactants contained in detergent will not lead to restrictions of the Sympatex membrane function, as opposed to a porous membrane (eg Gore- Tex and eVent ) no pores are present, which could be damaged or clogged. Therefore, the Sympatex membrane provides at undiminished good breathability an excellent, permanent barrier against the ingress of water. At the same time it is provided with a thickness of 5 microns, the thinnest membrane of the world. With a stretch of more than 300%, it also provides optimum freedom of movement in any situation.
Sympatex Reflexion is a variant in which the Sympatex membrane is vapor-coated with 3 micron aluminum. As a result heat is generated reflecting effect. It can be reflected by the aluminum vapor up to 80% of incident heat radiation. The gentle evaporation method, the function of moisture transfer is maintained. Application finds the reflection membrane so far mainly in the clothing industry, shoe soles and winter clothing, but also as insulation on water beds.