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Gore-Tex® lightweight materials and thermal solutions, suiting the demands of the military sector
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Military operations today require new skills, new tasks, in all types of terrains and weather conditions all over the world. This means that clothes systems and equipment for the armed forces need superior levels of performance, and properties that are revised and redesigned to suitably protect soldiers regardless of weather conditions, while remaining comfortable and offering freedom of movement even when heavy physical effort is required.
With this in mind Gore-Tex® has succeeded to create clothes constructed in layers, in a system that combines new design solutions and manufacturing processes. Depending on the specific needs in terms of water proofability, it is now possible to design the functionality of materials that will meet the demands for uniforms and the protection of body parts.
This is possible due to the “Gore-Seam Tape” technology, specifically developed for waterproof seams with durable properties, in several types of structures (for instance, when 2 ½ or 3 layers are involved).
Parts of clothes will be subjected to wear and tension, as happens with shoulder parts when carrying a backpack, or with knees and elbows, for instance. These parts will usually be reinforced with abrasion-resistant materials or with 3-layer structures. Other parts, like the front of clothes, will require improved breathability, provided by the 2 ½ layer structure. Users also benefit from other design solutions like the full-length zipper in trousers. And with the right combination of layer types and manufacturing processes, the “Performance Zone” concept ensures good breathability for all clothes. Technical clothes made with Gore-Tex® are lighter in weight, by 35% to 49%, in comparison with military gear or clothes made with conventional materials. This Performance Zone concept will choose the right type of layer structure for each part.
One special aspect to be noted here, and specifically convenient when it comes to clothes for the military, is that this fabric makes no noise, so soldiers may come up closer to targets without being detected. Tests have revealed they may come 14 meters closer than usual, when wearing these uniforms.
But this is not all that Gore-Tex® has in store for the military. In terms of comfort and the strict, sometimes harsh conditions to which soldiers may be subjected, the company developed an active cooling system, specifically designed for soldiers marching on foot. Stress caused by heat may have serious effects for infantry soldiers in the battlefield, causing performance to be affected and increasing risk. The company’s new “Gore Active Cooling” system is the flexible, portable solution to reduce heat by stress.
This system will pump air into the best, with a cooling power of 150 W for 8.5 hours. This means soldiers will remain cool even during harsh physical activity, and the skin is protected against heat by means of this inner layer in the “Gore Active Cooling” vest, available in one size for all and with a special two-layer structure. Air flows between these two layers and will pass directly to the inside through the punctured lining, naturally improving comfort. With the 150 W power system cool air is evenly distributed, with the additional advantage of the light weight of Gove Active Cooling vests, which prove to be very comfortable. These vests are also flame-retardant and will not melt when exposed to heat. Worn with or without bullet-proof vests, the 8.5 hours of cooling protection may be duplicated to 17 by selecting the reduced power option. This will not impair the cooling function, even when wearing a bullet-proof vest.
The battery of this vest is rechargeable. Full charge takes 3.5 hours and the vest included a car recharger. Gore has been working with military clients for 20 years and offers a full range of products including lightweight, durable clothes and multi-membrane comfort systems in addition to windproof clothes, footwear, glover and CBRN protection products (chemical, bio, radiation and nuclear). All products offer the highest performance levels and are highly compatible, flexible, and safe, with a perfect fit.
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