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:
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NFPA 1971
-
SFI 3.2A/5 Dry
-
SFI 3.2A/20 Wet
-
TPP 27 ~ 43 Dry
-
TPP > 150 Wet
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