Material World: Insulation Innovation Heats Up
Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering news from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.
PrimaLoft
Advanced material technology specialist PrimaLoft has expanded its synthetic down alternative portfolio with two new insulations. PrimaLoft Insulation ThermoPlume+ and PrimaLoft Insulation Rise Loose Fill are the latest products to achieve the performance and aesthetic of natural down while adding the advantages of PrimaLoft synthetic fibers. Brands like Adidas and Nike are among the first to adopt the new alternatives for their fall/winter 2024 collections.
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“Our latest loose fill offerings have been developed to serve a variety of needs for our customers. Performance brands appreciate the products’ durability, packability and top thermal performance, even in wet conditions,” said Tara Maurer-Mackay, PrimaLoft’s SVP of product strategy. “Fashion and lifestyle partners are drawn to PrimaLoft synthetic down alternatives by the down-like hand feel, luxurious puffiness, sustainability and animal welfare considerations.”
PrimaLoft ThermoPlume+ is a synthetic down alternative designed to mimic down’s lightweight warmth, loft, softness and compressibility. It blends two fiber shapes to increase loft and thermal properties and requires 20 percent less material to create the same loft as the company’s ThermoPlume technology. The empty space between the differing shapes creates a scaffolding effect that delivers a “structurally resilient” loft with down-like warmth.
PrimaLoft Rise technology was first introduced in 200 as a batted insulation. With Rise Loose Fill, PrimaLoft used this fiber construction to create a high-performance loose-fill product. With thermal values, weight, compression resistance and loft comparable to natural down, PrimaLoft Rise Loose Fill is a “true” vegan down alternative, made using 100 percent post-consumer recycled material.
“The [Adidas] Terrex Xperior loose-fill insulated jacket is a true innovation in collaboration with our technology ingredient partner, PrimaLoft,” said Allen Liu, director of materials for Adidas Terrex. “Together with the latest PrimaLoft Rise insulation and our Terrex special quilting technology, we’ve created a brand-new and iconic aesthetic in our insulation jacket collection.”
3M
Global manufacturer and distributor 3M will showcase its new 3M Thinsulate Light Series at the functional fabric show Performance Days in Munich this month.
Thinsulate Light Series is a new extension of the 3M Thinsulate Insulation family and is the lightest-weight insulation product yet. Powered by 3 M’s experience in nonwoven technologies, the insulation provides warmth while remaining thin—4mm thick—and wash-durable.
“At 3M, we’re very proud of our science-backed achievements, specifically our ability to propel the science of insulation forward,” said Totti Liang, Asia-Pacific sales manager for 3M. “Our developments within the 3M Thinsulate Insulation line of products is a testament to an unending focus on enhancing performance while building thinner, more versatile textiles.”
Along with the 3M Thinsulate Light Series, the company will showcase its Scotchgard Protector product line.
Thermore
Active outdoor apparel must first and foremost keep wearers warm, but a new solution from thermal insulation developer and producer Thermore adds another performance quality: stretch.
Thus, the group has debuted Freedom, made from 50 percent post-consumer recycled polyester, to offer “ground-breaking stretch” while still providing warmth.
As Joe DiGirolamo, North American leader at the Milan-based Thermore, told Sourcing Journal, there has been “movement in the market toward more stretch capacity in every type of apparel—and ultimately outerwear. If we can marry the concept of both comfort—a respectable level of warmth—and functionality—more freedom of movement—then it’s a positive intersection for performance outerwear.”
Freedom has an average stretch of 43 percent across its four weight options: 60, 80, 100 and 150 grams per square meter. Despite this significant stretch, the material was found to recover 100 percent in dynamometer tests, returning to its unstretched size. Per Thermore, the material also has a high ratio of warmth to weight.
Made from 100 percent polyester, Freedom gets its stretch via fibers with a “spring-like structure” and “micro gaps” that adjust to the wearer’s movement. Half of the fiber content is made from recycled post-consumer PET bottles, with Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification.
The insulation is treated with Thermore’s patented fiber migration finishing technology, preventing fibers from moving or escaping from fabric when worn and during machine washing or dry cleaning. This simplifies garment care while also providing product development opportunities.
Freedom can be used for attire designed for activities such as alpine, cross-country or downhill skiing, hunting or fishing, golfing and running. It could also be used in everyday garments, giving wearers comfort and warmth during commutes.
“When development calls for a higher level of movement and thermal comfort, the Freedom can be combined with a well-constructed knit or stretch woven to create a unique performance package,” said DiGirolamo.
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