Hydroweave® Construction
 
Hydroweave® is a high performance fabric that cools through evaporation. Designed with three layers, when soaked in water the middle layer absorbs and holds moisture. As the water evaporates from this layer, Hydroweave® cools the wearer while its shell and lining keep the wearer dry.

Outer Shell

The breathable outer shell can be made from a variety of fabrics and colors to address a wide range of applications. Since the design technique behind Hydroweave® is active evaporative cooling, the shell must be breathable to allow moisture to evaporate from the batting.

An ideal Hydroweave® shell fabric breathes well, but absorbs very little water. Commonly used shell fabrics include:

• Poly/Cotton - A balance of breathability, durability, and cost.

• Synthetics & Blends – Polyesters, nylons or the combination

• Indura/Nomex® - The industry standards for flame-resistant applications, Nomex/Indura combines good durability with the breathability and low water-absorption characteristics needed in a Hydroweave® shell fabric.
  

The Fibrous Batting
Hydroweave®’s batting is a combination of super-absorbent polymer fibers that are blended with a patented technique into a fibrous batting to enhance the evaporative process. The special water-retaining fibers in the batting charge quickly and deliver a slow, controlled release of moisture, enabling hours of cooling comfort.

The Inner Barrier
The inner lining is a conductive barrier that keeps the wearer dry and readily carries heat into the Hydroweave® batting. This layer allows perspiration to escape while conducting cooling to the body.

The liner keeps moisture away from the wearer, is permeable to body vapor, and readily conducts the cooling from Hydroweave®’s batting to the wearer.

Bodyteq garments use:

• Nylon taffeta - This lining is not a membrane and does not keep the wearer as dry as other configurations. Nylon taffeta eliminates the need for a substrate, providing a durable, cost-effective finish where dampness is not a concern.

Hydroweave® FR
For flame resistant (FR) applications, Bodyteq garments can be made with an outer shell of flame resistant material. Bodyteq is ideal for the manufacture of new lightweight garments where dissipating heat will improve performance, productivity, and safety.

Flame Resistant Applications Include:

• Military applications

• Firefighting

• Metal and foundry workers

• Racing drivers and pit crews

• Chemical and manufacturing environments

In temperature extermes, Hydroweave demonstrates exceptional Thermal Protective Performance (TPP). Hydroweave® is an effective barrier to heat, actively cooling the wearer and forming a shield to protect against radiant heat sources. Independent testing by Intertek Testing Services determined that Hydroweave's® FR composite delivered a dry TPP rating of 27 and a TPP rating greater than 150 when activated, or roughly 75 seconds before injury. In a comparative study to determine the likehood of steam injury, Hydroweave® was shown to offer greater protection than conventional flame-protective fabrics, wet or dry.

Hydroweave® meets or exceeds the following specifications:

• NFPA 1971

• SFI 3.2A/5 Dry

• SFI 3.2A/20 Wet

• TPP 27 ~ 43 Dry

• TPP > 150 Wet