Neoprene is an
extremely versatile material with inherent thermal
properties (as used in wetsuits) and the ability
to contour to the body giving compressive support
(as used in sports and orthopaedic supports).
However, many applications of neoprene exhibit
serious disadvantages and limitations of use
because of the rapid build-up of heat and sweat
with consequential discomfort for the user.
Over the years, in the quest to produce breathable
high-performance fabrics, there have been many
attempts to develop a breathable neoprene.
Ventilated or perforated neoprene which is
neoprene that has holes punched through it has
been employed in many applications over the years,
primarily because until now there has not been a
better alternative. While ‘breathable’ neoprene
has advantages over traditional neoprene in
certain circumstances, the size and formation of
the holes significantly reduce the insulation
value resulting in condensation of sweat and
cooling of the skin. It also causes significant
changes in the material's compressive and elastic
qualities.
Dr Nigel Middleton, the inventor of Stomatex®
abandoned the traditional approach to breathable
fabric systems and instead examined the means by
which leaf plants remove vast quantities of water
through otherwise impermeable surfaces - a process
known as transpiration. The principal structure of
this process is known as the stomata, which
provides for an ideal set of physical
circumstances that enable extremely efficient
expulsion of water vapour from the plant.
Dr Middleton believed that it might be possible to
replicate the thermodynamics involved in
transpiration within synthetic man-made
impermeable materials such as neoprene, thus
enabling them to 'breathe' and therefore become
more comfortable for human use in dry conditions.
He used the principle of transpiration and applied
it to the non-breathing material neoprene. He
developed a way to process the neoprene so it
could breathe and dissipate excess heat and sweat,
making the material more comfortable and able to
be worn over longer periods of time.
In Stomatex®, trapped vapour is efficiently
removed from beneath the fabric by the action of
minute pumps, formed within the body of the
material. When worn next to the body, it provides
for a perfect microclimate against the skin,
enabling extended comfort levels, when worn over
longer periods.
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