Stomatex is the patented physics that
replicates the way that the leaves of plants transpire.
Stomatex Neoprene is a high-performance fabric made
from a lightweight, ultra-thin, non-porous polyester
membrane that is weatherproof and highly breathable.
It is currently produced in Stomatex Neoprene, although
further advanced polymer foam technologies are under
development.
Neoprene (a synthetic rubber)
demonstrates superior tensile strength and elasticity,
offering significant advantages over plastic foam materials
and making Stomatex® ideal for close contour applications
where body movement must remain unhindered.
Stomatex® uses a pattern of dome-shaped
vapour chambers, each with a tiny pore in the centre.
While resting, excess body heat and perspiration rise
into the dome-shaped chambers and exit through the tiny
pores at a controlled rate. The chambers flex and stretch
with each movement of the body, causing excess heat
and perspiration to be pumped out of the small pores.
This also allows cooler, drier air to enter from the
outside. The unique pumping action of the vapour chambers
increases and decreases with the user's level of physical
activity. Stomatex® is truly unique, as it is the
only material that can maintain a perfect microclimate
between the skin and the fabric at any level of physical
activity, allowing it to be worn for long periods of
time without overheating.
Stomatex®
is generally made from thermo-insulating closed-cell
foam materials such as Neoprene. It is used in the manufacture
of garments and appliances where warmth and/or support
may be a deciding factor but where comfort may be compromised
by the unacceptable build-up of heat and perspiration
in traditional closed-cell foam materials.
By imitating the process of transpiration
used by leaves, Stomatex® is able to overcome the
problems of perspiration and over-heating traditionally
associated with the use of closed cell foam materials
such as Neoprene. It can therefore ensure that the body
heat, blood flow and compression remain consistent during
a wide range of activities.
Reflecting the rate of physical activity,
the chambers create a self-contained microclimate, allowing
cooler, drier air to pass through at a controlled rate
to keep the skin free of perspiration and maintain an
ideal skin temperature over an extended period of time.
What
are Stomatex's®
advantages over ventilated Neoprene?
Neoprene which has holes punched through
it has been employed in many applications over the years,
primarily because until now there has not been a better
alternative. While it has advantages over traditional
Neoprene in certain circumstances, the size and formation
of the holes significantly reduce the insulation value
resulting in condensation of sweat and cooling of the
skin. It also causes significant changes in the material's
compressive and elastic qualities.
Stomatex replicates the way in which
a plant's stomata transpires and passes vapour from
inside the leaf into the atmosphere. Likewise, trapped
vapour molecules are efficiently removed from beneath
the fabric by the flexing action of minute dome-shaped
chambers, each with a tiny pore centred within the body
of the material.
Stomatex® technology is based on
the laws of thermodynamics and diffusion - that heat
will always transfer from a region of high temperature
to a region of low temperature and that, in an attempt
to regain equilibrium, water vapour will tend to move
from a region of higher density to a region of lower
density.
The unique design of the Stomatex®
vapour chamber provides the conditions to establish
a steep diffusion gradient at the pore exit. The efficiency
of this configuration allows maximum vapour extraction
whilst minimising the loss of heat. To facilitate this
process, it is essential to provide an air space (the
chamber) into which the excess fluid can evaporate and
collect as vapour.
In optimum conditions the ratio of
surface area available to collect the water vapour (at
skin surface) to the area of the exit pore must be determined
so as to allow the existence of a constant back pressure
within the system. If this is not observed, excessive
convection will result in uncontrolled loss of heat.
This process is aided by the user's
movement in two ways. Firstly, as air movement across
the pore aperture increases (outer surface), the removal
of vapour-laden air and its replacement by relatively
dry air results in an increased rate of diffusion.
Secondly, the natural movement and
flexing of the fabric, particularly in the dome region,
assists the removal of water vapour by a 'pumping' action.
This action increases with higher levels of physical
activity, enabling the fabric to regulate its performance
to match the production of perspiration by the user.
For detailed results of human
subject testing, please email info@stomatex.com.
