Sympatex
Sympatex (trademark of Sympatex Technologies GmbH) is an originally from the United Glanzstoffabriken AG in Wuppertal developed functional fabric which is permeable to water vapor but not liquid water. ( Moisture barrier membrane ) It's about a 5 to 25 micron thick membrane , which is applied (= laminated ) to a textile carrier material and protects against moisture in clothing and shoes.
function
The Sympatex membrane does not contain any pores. It consists of polyetherester , a chain of polyester and polyether molecules. Hydrophilic molecular building blocks in the otherwise hydrophobic membrane cause breathability . The hydrophilic (water-attracting) components of the Sympatex membrane absorb moisture from the body and release it to the outside through evaporation: the water vapor molecules produced by transpiration are transported to the outside along the molecular chains through a physical-chemical process. This effect increases with the difference in temperature and humidity between the sides of the membrane: the more you sweat, the more moisture the membrane can transport to the outside. It is 100% waterproof and 100% windproof and stretchable to more than 300%.
Dirt particles or surfactants contained in detergents do not restrict the function of the Sympatex membrane because, unlike a porous membrane, there are no pores that could be damaged or clogged. Compared to membranes with PTFE, however, the coating on a Sympatex membrane washes out faster and is less dirt and oil-repellent.
The respective Sympatex membrane (5 - 25 μm) is connected to different carrier materials such as woven, knitted, non- woven , foam or leather to form a user-specific laminate.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Heike Baier: Chemistry in outdoor clothing: The aftertaste of adventure. In: Spiegel Online . June 16, 2013, accessed June 10, 2018 .