Fabric Evaluations

5-24-95

Note that these evaluations were previously credited to W. L. Gore and Associates, Inc.

I was contacted by Gore and was informed that evaluations here are not from Gore or based on any information obtained from Gore. Nor was Gore ever contacted to ensure the accuracy of the data.


This was posted to rec.backcountry. It was submitted by Kevin Klenk
kklenk@wizard.cse.nd.edu

Performance specifications of new Entrant Products and `Triple Point'

Test Method  Entrant G2-P  Entrant G2-C  Ceramic #1  Ceramic #2  NTS 330 

MVTR
MDM dry         6992           7233         2951        3871      13,663
g/m2/24hrs

RET              120            115          263         200        48
m2 mbar/W

UK WEP psi        20              5           64          30        65
The new Entrant products (and the H2no Plus and Storm) are more breathable than their predecessors although the waterproofness is not changed.

The Triple Point fabrics have very good waterproofness, in the case of the heavier version, comparable to Gore-tex on the UK test. Their breathability on the other hand is not even as good as the urethane coatings.

There are thousands of different fabrics available for manufacturing products. Just the different nylons provide a wide variety of choices in performance and durability as well as price.

Fabric: (Fabric evaluations by Gore labs 6/91 and 4/92)

Evaluations are of named fabrics laminated to Gore-tex membrane

             Wgt. Thread Ct. Thread size    Test     Tear Strength     MVTR
                                          Abrasion   AATCC 135-1987   MDM-Dry
                                        ASTM-D-2582  warp  fill avg.
DriLoft      2.4   94X86    70/34X70/34     180      2.9   2.6  2.8   23,400
NTS 330      3.3  156X70   70/66X2/70/66    427      4.7   4.9  4.8   13,661
NTS 220      2.2  106X94    70/50X70/50     400      3.7   2.9  3.3   13,540
NTS 210      2.1  118X92    70/66X70/66     390      3.4   2.8  3.1   13,730
1.1 oz rip   1.1  125X125   (2.2 f weight)  170      1.6   1.8  1.7   14,881
Streakfree   1.6  174X112                   276      2.5   1.1  1.8   11,000
Supp Taslan  3.3  160X68   70/34X2/70/66    400      3.5   4.9  4.2   11,050
Supp Taslite 2.6  118X68   70/34X2/70/66    278      3.4   3.7  3.55  11,956
Gridstop TM  2.8                            150      4.9   4.4  4.65  13,000
Superpluma TM           Superpluma is 1.1 ripstop
Average micro coated 3 oz nylon  mid-weight coating (Entrant/H2no)     4,000
   "      "     "    "  "   "    heavy-weight   (Entrant HP/H2no Plus) 2,600
Ceramic coatings (Triple point) achieve the same results as Entrant

Marmot uses NTS 330 		  Moonstone  Supplex Taslite
	    NTS 210               	     Dynamic: another name for NTS 220
            NTS 220

North Face uses Supplex Taslan
                Streakfree

Patagonia uses Gridstop (Polyester ripstop)
               Super Pluma (same as 1.1 oz ripstop nylon)

Gridlite: a ripstop version of NTS 210 (higher tear/lower abrasion) 
The tests used are standardized, repeatable tests used by the textile industry.

Warp and fill refer to the two axis of the fabric. MVTR is an acronym for Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate. (breathability)

Supplex taslite and supplex taslan are fabrics used for the high abrasion areas of garments.

Streakfree is a lighter supplex fabric used in lighter garments and low abrasion areas.

Superpluma TM and Gridstop TM are trade names for fabrics available from Gore Japan and are not different from fabrics available to other manufacturers. (The dimensions of the aramid grid are proprietary to G.P.I.W., aramid grid fabric is not proprietary and was introduced three years ago by Millet)

Breathability: (the rate at which moisture vapor passes)

MVTR rates are inconsistent from test to test. The values listed above are the average of several tests. A hypothetical fabric with a test result of 12,000 might have readings from 10,500 to 13,500. The use of an average provides a better picture of the MVTR than the high test result among many.

Correlations of MVTR and RET (the resistance to moisture vapor transfer) to comfort have been performed by the Hoenstien Institute in Germany. The following is very brief summary of those results.

MVTR        RET                Hoenstien correlations to comfort

                                        RET    comfort level

 2,600......309       (H2no+ & H2no)  200-up   Not Satisfactory
 4,000......200                       130-200  Satisfactory 
10,000.......72         (most G-tex)   60-130  Good
13,000.......54         (best G-tex)    0-60   Very Good
>From the Hoenstien tests we can see that small differences in MVTR do not make a perceivable difference in comfort. Larger differences do make a difference. By dividing the performance into four categories we get useful information. Fabrics with a RET of 200 or higher (MVTR 4000 or less) are noticeably uncomfortable (wet). The rest is divided into a good, better, best, scenario. Real people in field testing conditions were able to perceive an important difference in comfort between the MVTRs of coated fabrics and Goretex as well as (though to a lesser degree) between different shell fabrics laminated to Goretex. (Goretex is 2 1/2 to 5 times as breathable as H2no)