Fabric types & Technologies

• DWR - Durable Water Repellent
• Laminates
• Encapsulation
• Coating

DWR - Durable Water Repellent
Durable Water Repellency is an invisible water-repellent finish applied to the outer fabric of most outdoor clothing and equipment. DWR finishes prevent the fabric from absorbing water by making water bead up on the surface and roll off. DWR finishes are basically fluorocarbons that when applied to fabric in the textile factory create a water repellent surface. When water contacts the DWR coating it will assume the shape of a sphere. Spheres, or beads of water, roll off the fabric rather than soaking into the fibers. A fabric that sheds water will do a better job of keeping you dry and comfortable.

Laminates
Laminated fabrics are a water-repellent, breathable fabric that has a membrane small enough to allow vapor to pass through, but too small for rain to enter. Fabrics such as Gore-Tex use a laminated membrane as well as a DWR finish on the outer layer of the fabric to prevent fabric wet-out. The membrane itself is more of a vapor barrier relying on the outer DWR finish to complete the waterproof aspects of the fabric. Laminates are applied to many different types of outdoor gear. Jackets, sleeping bags, shoes and boots, gloves, tents are just a few of the most popular applications for laminated fabrics.

Encapsulation
The encapsulation process places an ultra-thin film around the fabric fibers and precisely places a durable, breathable barrier within the woven polyester fabric to complete the high performance process. Unlike traditional coatings and laminations that just protect one side of the fabric, Encapsulation requires up to 40 computerized process controls to place protective polymers inside the fabric, which in turn sheds water. The result is a fabric that provides maximum protection and remains relatively breathable.

Coatings
The best way to achieve a waterproof barrier is by using a coated fabric. The highest durability, and resistance to abrasion, chemicals, acids, oils and flames comes from PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) coated clothing where the coating is applied to the outside of the fabric. This is compact and solid, giving heavy-duty weather protection. Both PVC and PU waterproof clothing is 100% waterproof, allowing no moisture evaporation through the coated fabric which often creates a damp inside and condensation of moisture on the inside of the coated fabric. New breathable coatings have emerged over the last decade that rival performance of laminated fabrics technology and have their own care requirements.