US' W.L. Gore unveils stretch fabric technology for defence rain suits

Military missions can be rough. Soldiers must run, climb, crawl, or operate weapons in any weather and often with limited space. They must be able to rely on their equipment, including their clothing. Gore research found that lower thermal burden and greater freedom of movement are two of the top user requirements. So far, however, these were barely compatible with other key demands, such as maximum protection and durability, the company said in a press release.

Traditionally, a three-layer Gore-Tex product technology has delivered reliable protection from any weather and has provided resistance to contamination. Conventional stretch textiles, on the other hand, do give a lot of mobility and comfort, but they are too heavy and not as durable as they could be. They also tend to have high water pick-up.

Opposite to conventional stretch fabrics, where elastic components are placed in the face fabric, the new Gore-Tex stretch product technology, uses a completely different approach: elastic components are placed between a stretch PTFE membrane and robust polyamide face fabrics. The result is that the stretchability of up to 20 per cent allows garment designs with a more tailored fit. Tighter fitting leads to reduced air gaps between the body and the outer shell and thus increased breathability by up to 25 per cent as compared to current Gore-Tex rain suits.

No matter how long or intense the mission, the Gore-Tex stretch rain adapts quickly to all movements of the soldier. Besides the significant improvement in temperature compensation, the design allows for great comfort and easy combination with other ballistic protection without limiting mobility. Gore’s unique combination of innovative material technologies, modern, adaptive design, and focus on end-user needs has produced a new generation of clothing for defence forces that offers durable protection and comfort in extreme weather situations.

“Our new stretch rain suit for use in defence is the first on the market to successfully deliver a unique and high-performance laminate combining the best of both textiles. Durable waterproofness and high breathability paired with more freedom of movement and a reduced thermal burden. Members of defence forces benefit from soft, elastic and noise-reduced clothing, while the new close fit of the fabric offers less restrictions in movement, and the high flexibility of the stretch material leads to reduced air gaps, which is why it allows a close fit for the combat clothing,” Oliver Opitz, product specialist for defence at Gore, said in a statement.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)