CoolMax fabrics

It is not known at this point how many garment manufacturers use spandex-containing fabrics, nor how many pounds are land filled or incinerated. However, DuPont provided a fisting of 26 CoolMax fabric and yam suppliers in North America, and 39 internationally. ... 

DuPont cites applications in world team tennis T-shirts and athletic socks, golfing apparel and New York Police Department bicycle patrol clothing. The fabrics contain fibers described by DuPont as tetra-channef Dacron . Synthetic fibers are produced with different cross-sectional shapes depending on the extrusion technology (e.g. melt, solvent or wet spun) and the end-use application. The cross-sections of these fibers contain four lobes, thus the description tetra-channef. The theory is that these channels provide for the wicking of perspiration away from the skin surface towards an outer layer of fabric, which in turn absorbs the liquid. DuPont s claims for the performance of CoolMax fabrics are given in Table 10.1. 

Scenario Simmons Bedding Company unveiled its latest innovation, the HealthSmart bed, featuring a zip-off mattress top that may be laundered or dry cleaned. Its coolmax-channeled fibers wick away sweat and moisture as you sleep, and allow the fabric to dry quickly in the laundry. In the second layer, Nano-Tex (nano technology) creates a semi imperwious layer that traps fluids and particles so they can be washed away. The third layer is terry cloth treated with Teflon fabric protector that provides an extra level of protection. 

A garment manufacturer, Griffin Manufacturing Co., Fall River, Massachusetts, a partner in this research project, produces a jogging bra which is constructed of two layers of knitted fabric. The blue outer fabric contains 43% cotton, 43% polyester and 14% Lycra spandex. The white inner lining contains 90% CoolMax and 10% Lycra spandex. CoolMax is a DuPont trademark for fabric containing DuPont tetra-channel Dacron polyester fiber. - All these materials are characterized in another section of this report. 

DuPont Company Trade Literature (1998), CoolMax Global Fabric Suppliers/ CoolMax YamSuppliers, www.dupont.com/coolmax/topics/fabrics.html. Wilmington, Delaware. 

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