Tomen Corporation Introduces GelanotsÆ Membranes and Coatings
NEW YORK, April 13, 1998 - The Textile Division of Tomen Corporation launched today its GelanotsÆ group of waterproof, breathable, windproof laminations and coatings. Included in the cost-competitive group are three laminations featuring a non-porous membrane and three micro-porous coatings. All membranes and coatings can be applied to a wide variety of polyesters, nylons, and cottons.

Products made with the Gelanots® laminations offer excellent stretch and durability as well as high waterproofness, windproofness, and moisture permeability. The Gelanots® membrane uses a specially designed urethane that is extremely soft and flexible and that does not tear when stretched. "The ability to stretch is an essential feature of comfortable, high-performance sportswear," says Jim Heiden, industry design consultant. The membrane also has excellent adhesiveness, allowing it to be laminated to spun fabrics without impairing their characteristics. The membrane is especially suited to use with stretchable face fabrics, including knits, jerseys, fleeces, and spandex.

The molecular structure of the non-porous Gelanots® membrane allows for a high degree of moisture permeability and waterproofness. When the humidity inside the garment increases during exercise, sweat vapor moves through intermolecular spaces in the membrane to the outside, just as water flows down from a higher to a lower place. Yet, because the membrane has no pores, it remains impenetrable by wind and water even when stretched by vigorous use and laundering.

As the body's temperature increases inside the garment, the molecules in this "smart" fabric move more rapidly, increasing the size of the intermolecular spaces and facilitating the transfer of sweat to the outside. In addition, because it is hydrophilic (or "water loving") like cotton and wool, the membrane actually helps to move sweat from the body to the outside, which increases comfort.

Test data indicate that the Gelanots® membrane achieves moisture permeability levels of 15,000 G/m2/24h, waterproof levels of 10,000 mm, and windproof levels of 0 CFM.

The three Gelanots® membranes are Gelanots® Impact, Tomen's most durable and most waterproof lamination, which features a microporous coating over the Gelanots® membrane; Gelanots® AU, a softer, thicker membrane designed for use without a lining; and Gelanots®, offering an optimum balance of waterproofness and breathability.

Three micro-porous coatings round out the Gelanots® group and offer good waterproofness with good breathability at an affordable cost. They include Gelanots® HP, a high-performance coating with excellent breathability for lighter-weight fabrics; Gelanots® AW, a durable, highly waterproof coating for all weather conditions; and Gelanots®, designed for all-around, multi-sport use.

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Contacts:
Yoshi Fukuda, Tomen America Inc. Textile Fabrics Dept., 111 West 40th Street, New York, New York 10018; Tel: (212) 827-4604; Fax: (212) 391-6959; email: fukuda@nyc.tomen.com

Or link to Tomen Corporation's Corporate Directory

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