Gore-Tex is a waterproof and breathable material used in outdoor clothing and equipment. It repels water while allowing sweat to escape. The technology was developed by WL Gore & Associates and is made of layers including a PTFE waterproof layer. Gore-Tex is also used in medical instruments, guitar strings, and bicycle cables.
Gore-Tex waterproof garment is a combination of materials used primarily in outdoor clothing and equipment that allows that garment to be both waterproof and breathable. It repels water such as rain, snow, river water etc to keep the wearer’s skin dry but also allows sweat to escape, this is what makes the material breathable which also keeps moisture away from the body. Waterproof Gore-Tex is a technology developed and owned by the company WL Gore & Associates.
Due to the demanding conditions in which most outdoor clothing will be worn, the materials used to make such clothing must be durable and waterproof. In the past, nylons and plastics were used to keep moisture away from the skin. These materials are effective in doing so, but they are not breathable. Thus, the wearers would sweat, which would coat the skin and then cool down, making the wearers cold and uncomfortable in extreme conditions.
Wilbert L. Gore, Rowena Taylor and Robert Gore co-invented waterproof Gore-Tex to meet the demands of outdoor clothing. The Gore-Tex waterproof system is based on layers: the outer layer of a garment is usually made of polyester or nylon for strength and durability, with the Gore-Tex layer below. This is the waterproof layer, which is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, the same material that comprises Teflon.
The first models of Gore-Tex waterproof clothing stopped there. However, users discovered that the waterproof Gore-Tex shell could be easily damaged by sweat and grime, so later models of the rainwear featured an internal polyurethane protective layer to prevent damage from occurring. Some waterproof variants also feature an inner shell made of a softer, more comfortable material, but this in no way contributes to its breathability or waterproofness. Gore-Tex fabrics can be replenished after a while using a water repellent treatment that can be applied in a washing machine or using a spray bottle.
Since then, WL Gore has devised many other uses for Gore-Tex waterproof materials. Medical instruments are often made from the material, as are instrument strings, such as guitar strings. Because guitar strings often pick up dirt and oils from the user’s fingers, Gore-Tex is effective in preserving string life by keeping oils and dirt away from the string core. Gore-Tex cables are also common on bicycles. The shifter and brake cables can collect dirt and moisture very easily, but the Gore-Tex coating can keep the cables gliding smoothly through the cable housing to prevent binding or slowness from shifting and braking.
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