How does sportswear cool down your body?
Summertime! The time of year that we often hear and see the word 'cool' inserted into many ads of products. From vests, short sleeves, sportswear, trousers, and even bedding, they are all labeled with such characteristics. Does such cool-feeling fabric really match the effect in the description? And how does that work?
Let’s find out with MimoWork Laser:
Clothes made of natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, or silk are often our first choice for summer wear. Generally, these kinds of textiles are lighter in weight and have good perspiration absorption and air permeability. Moreover, the fabric is soft and comfortable for daily wearing.
However, they're not good for sports, especially cotton, which could gradually get heavier as it absorbs sweat. Thus, for high-performance sportswear, it is important to use high-tech materials to boost your exercise performance. Nowadays the cooling fabric is extremely popular with the public.
It is very smooth and close-fitting and even has a slightly cool feeling.
The cool and refreshing feeling that brings is more because of the ‘big space’ inside the fabric, corresponding to better air permeability. Thus, the sweat sends away heat, spontaneously resulting in a cool feeling.
The fabrics woven by cool fiber are generally called cool fabrics. Although the weaving process is different, the principle of the cool fabrics is roughly similar - the fabrics have the properties of fast heat dissipation, accelerates the sweat sending out, and reduces the temperature of the body surface.
The cool fabric is made up of a variety of fibers. Its structure is a high-density network structure like capillaries, which can absorb water molecules deep into the fiber core, and then compress them into the fiber space of the fabric.
‘Cool feeling’ sportswear will generally add/embed some heat-absorbing materials into the fabric. To distinguish the "cool feeling" sportswear from the composition of the fabric, there are two general kinds:
1. Add mineral-embedded yarn
This kind of sportswear is often advertised as ‘high Q-MAX’ on the market. Q-MAX means ‘Touch Feeling of Warmth or Coolness’. The bigger the figure, the cooler it would be.
The principle is that the specific heat capacity of the ore is small and fast heat balance.
(* The smaller the specific heat capacity, the stronger the heat absorption or cooling ability of the object; The faster the thermal equilibrium, the less time it takes to reach a temperature similar to that of the outside world.)
Similar reason for girls wearing diamond/platinum accessories often feels cool. Different minerals bring different effects. However, considering the cost and price, manufacturers tend to choose ore powder, jade powder, etc. After all, sportswear companies would like to keep it affordable for the majority of people.
2. Add Xylitol
Next, let’s bring out the second fabric which is added ‘Xylitol’. Xylitol is commonly used in foods, such as chewing gum and sweets. It can also be found in the ingredient list of some toothpaste and is often used as a sweetener.
But we're not talking about what it does as a sweetener, we're talking about what happens when it contacts with water.
After the combination of Xylitol and water, it will cause the reaction of water absorption and heat absorption, resulting in a cool feeling. That's why Xylitol gum gives us a cool feeling when we are chewing it. This feature was quickly discovered and applied to the clothing industry.
It’s worth mentioning that the ‘Champion Dragon’ medal suit worn by China at the 2016 Rio Olympics contains Xylitol in its inner lining.
At first, most Xylitol fabrics are all about the surface coating. But the problem comes one after another. It is because Xylitol dissolves in water (sweat), so when it gets less, which means less cool or fresh feeling.
As a result, the fabrics with xylitol embedded into the fibers have been developed, and the washable performance has been greatly improved. In addition to different embedding methods, different weaving methods also affect the ‘cool feeling’.
The opening of the Tokyo Olympics is imminent, and innovative sportswear as such has received considerable attention from the public. Besides good looking, sportswear is also required to help people perform better. Many of these require the use of new or specialized techniques in the sportswear manufacturing process, not just the materials from which they are made.
The entire production method has a major impact on the design of the product. Lead to consider all the differences of technology that can be used throughout the process. This includes unfolding of non-woven fabrics, cutting with a single layer, color matching, needle and thread selection, needle type, feed type, etc, and high-frequency welding, feeling heat motion sealing, and bonding. The brand logo may include phoenix printing, digital printing, screen printing, embroidery, laser cutting, laser engraving, laser perforating, embossing, appliques.
MimoWork provides the optimal and advanced laser processing solutions for sportswear and jersey, including precise digital printed fabric cutting, dye sublimation fabric cutting, elastic fabric cutting, embroidery patch cutting, laser perforating, laser fabric engraving.
Who are we?
Mimowork is a results-oriented corporation bringing 20-year deep operational expertise to offer laser processing and production solutions to SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) in and around clothing, auto, ad space.
Our rich experience of laser solutions deeply rooted in the advertisement, automotive & aviation, fashion & apparel, digital printing, and filter cloth industry allows us to accelerate your business from strategy to day-to-day execution.
We believe that expertise with fast-changing, emerging technologies at the crossroads of manufacture, innovation, technology, and commerce are a differentiator. Please contact us: Linkedin homepage and Facebook homepage or info@mimowork.com
Post time: Jun-25-2021