let us talk to the animals

BIOMIMETICS AS RELATES TO TEXTILES IS UTTER NONSENSE

Biomimetic is; “The study and development of synthetic systems that mimic the formation, function, or structure of biologically produced substances and materials and biological mechanisms and processes”.

The article that I read is published in Specialty Fabrics Review a magazine published by the Industrial Fabrics Association.

In retrospect the first time I ever heard of a textile fiber associated with a development associating it with a natural mechanism was when hollow fiber was created. The concept was duplicating the hollow fiber or hair that grows naturally on caribou and probably grows naturally on all other species such as deer, elk, moose, etc. The air trapped in the shaft of the hair offers insulation for the animal, therefore the air trapped in the polyester hollow fiber will do the same for us humans. The company that was making this hollow-fill batting was not keeping it in a lofty state but putting it through a needle punching process that made what I refer to as a flat batting, literally no air space between the fibers so after two years of skiwear companies putting the needle punched batting in their garments they stopped using it because their customers were freezing. This gave a boost at the time for people buying garments that they referred to as making them look like the Michelin man, but they were warm.

I am not sure of how much greater the insulation of Lamilite is since it is made with a hollow fiber, but it has some benefit primarily because it is left as a lofty product.

The article reports some fascinating information from companies that sell textile materials to companies in the outdoor industry. One such company Schoeller USA, they are a European company. They claim to have “c_change technology. What follows I took right off of the Schoeller web site.

“Pine cones open when the outside temperature rises, and close again when the temperature drops. Inspired by nature, the c_change® membrane works on the same principle. It reacts in exactly the same way to ambient conditions. Not only the temperature but also the air and body moisture are taken into consideration. At higher temperatures or during sports activities, the polymer structure of the c_change® membrane opens in response to the correspondingly intense moisture development. Excess heat and moisture can escape to the outside air. In the cold, or at times of low activity, the membrane remains closed. As a result of the lower moisture development, the polymer structure contracts and keeps the heat close to the body. Shivering or chilling are effectively prevented.”

I investigated how pine cones work and yes while they are on the tree they do open and close when wet. They open when dry conditions exist to allow the seeds to get blown out of the cone and close when wet conditions exist so the seeds cannot go anyplace. I have a significant number of pine cones in my yard and once off of the tree they are open and never close again. That is because they are dead.

Schoeller believes they have created a polymer that will when made into a fabric or coated on a fabric will open and close in the same manner as the pine cone. Several weeks ago I wrote about a material being used by North Face Company that supposedly does the same thing.

There is a German company Salewa that is offering a jacket incorporating TirolWool Celliant insulation. What follows is an explanation of what the insulation is:

Our TIROLWOOL® CELLIANT® insulation is a blend made of locally sourced wool and CELLIANT® thermo-regulating fibres. The technology keeps you warm also during static situation during your mountaineering activities thanks to its longer heat retention and infrared reflection. Whether you are planning a multi-day hike or traveling to new places, the fiber keeps you warm by absorbing body humidity and allows maximum breathability.

I assume their biomimetic contribution is the wool because the Celliant is a chemical.

“Celliant is a brand-name synthetic polymer bi-component fiber made from polyethylene terephthalate with optically active particles embedded into the core”.

The particles supposedly recycle and convert radiant body heat into infrared energy sending this back to the tissues. They are in some manner mixing the two fibers to make an incredible light weight insulation that I guess is adequate for use in the Tyrolean Alps in winter.

It has become very obvious that the number of companies offering insulated products each year that will out do the prior year’s products whether the insulation is used by them or is purchased from a company purporting to have the latest and greatest is never ending. The reason for these companies; either the insulation marketer or the garment marketer, I say marketer because nobody has their own factory producing wheat the sell, has yet to make a product that works. Since they live in a state of failure they keep trying and all that changes is the comparisons that make to what actually works for plants and animals. These company people actively avoid thinking and therefore they do no research into what actually does work. I mean continuous filament fiber has been in existence since 1968 and has yet to fail as an insulating medium, and yet the past and current crop of people at these companies charged with developing garments that actually keep people warm avoid it like one would the plague. Why do you think that is; easy answer; once they incorporate continuous filament fiber into their garments they will have successful insulated garments and they will not have to look for a new insulation to replace it. That is because it can’t be done.

Over the years that I have been using continuous filament fiber for my insulation not one of these genius companies has ever bothered to contact me.

The reality is as I see it these companies and so many more serving the outdoor market place are snake oil salesman, charlatans, or simply people who lie about the products they sell. I always welcome representatives from any and all of the companies I write about to come to Grand Junction Colorado for the purpose of proving to me that I am wrong about what I say about their product. It is very nice for me to know that I never have to give thought about possibly replacing the insulation that I use. Lamilite, Climashield call it what you may because it is SIMPLY THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As an analogy, when I drive on the interstate the speed limit is 75 mph, I set my cruise control at 70 mph so I never have to be concerned that I will be stopped for speeding. Again it is nice to know I do not have to be concerned about my insulation.

Maybe these geniuses should talk to the animals, just like talking to the copper manikin.