Comprised of up to 99.8 percent air, aerogel is the lightest solid in the world. But that’s not all. The material, which is also called “frozen smoke” due to its appearance and physical properties, exhibits extremely low heat conductivity which exceeds other insulations many times over. This is why NASA has already been using aerogel for aerospace projects for many years. Despite this, it hasn’t been possible to bind the material to textiles in a high concentration and enable straightforward further processing over the roughly 90-year history of the material...until now. Outlast Technologies GmbH has developed an innovative process for permanently adhering large amounts of aerogel to different media, like nonwoven fabric, felt and composites materials. Their original properties are retained throughout, so they can easily be further processed using conventional production methods. What’s special here, is that the fabrics sold under the Aersulate name are only 1 to 3 mm thick and achieve very high insulation values which are largely retained even under pressure and in moist conditions. Despite their high performance, they are still soft and can be used for shoes, clothing and work safety products, and technical applications. A flame retardant version is available too. A patent for the process developed by Outlast has already been filed.

Refreshingly cool

With fresh2SKIN® Outlast is providing an innovative, exciting finishing technique for almost any kind of textile. fresh2SKIN®  brings about a very pleasant cooling effect for the wearer of the textile, which is activated by the use of natural menthol. In combination with the Outlast® thermo-technology and the outstanding hydrophilic properties, fresh2SKIN® offers long-lasting comfort at warm temperatures.

Application

fresh2SKIN® is applied using a conventional foulard process, which is simple and economical for textile manufacturers. No special equipment or specific manufacturing tools are required. fresh2SKIN® can be applied to cotton, cotton blends, synthetic fabrics, and knitted or woven fabrics.

Properties

• Temperature and moisture management with the Outlast® thermo-technology 
• Cooling effect through the use of menthol
• Outstanding hydrophilic properties
• Antistatic effect on synthetic materials
• No impairment of the fabric’s drape
• Soft, pleasant feel
• Hard-wearing (good durability, even after multiple washes at low temperatures up to 40 °C)
• Can be combined with additional properties (e.g. antibacterial)
• Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®, class 1 (if the base material is certified)
• Skin-friendly and dermatologically tested

Outlast® Thermo-Technology was originally developed for NASA to protect astronauts from temperature fluctuations in space. Outlast® Thermo-Technology utilizes natural wax based on rapseed oil to absorb, store and release heat for optimal thermal comfort. 

The Outlast® thermo-material thus acts as a heat buffer, significantly reducing the user’s heat peaks. This leads to considerably improved comfort and prevents sweat formation by up to 48%*.

 * Tests for various final applications such as clothing, shoes, and helmets conducted by C. Russ – INSIDE CLIMATE, an independent test laboratory in Munich (THG AreaView – SleepView). Details on request.

The advantages:

• Absorbs excess body heat
• Manages moisture
• Reduces overheating
• Reduces chilling
• Reduces perspiration
• Continuously adapts to thermal changes

In-Fiber
Outlast® Thermo-Technology can be incorporated directly in fibers (acrylic, viscose or polyester). The fibers are spun into yarns being manufactured then into fabrics ( such as socks or beanies) or are suitable for weaving. In-fiber applications are for products being worn next to or very close to skin.

For bedding products Outlast® fibers are used as filling material. Outlast® polyester fiberfill can be easily blended with other fibers and is suited for bedding products with synthetic fillings. The result: cuddly and soft sleeping comfort with the added value of an ideal climate control.

Outlast® Thermo-Technology enhances textiles by providing the benefit of proactive temperature regulation that manages heat and moisture of many textiles to reduce overheating and freezing. There are different ways to incorporate Outlast® Thermo-Technology depending on the end product and the performance you want to obtain.

Coated materials
Outlast® coated materials offer a higher capacity to store heat than any of our other applications. They are intended to be used in products that are not in direct contact with the skin i.e. apparel, footwear, bedding, seating, etc.

A wide range of materials can be coated. For example many products (e.g. bedding) use nonwovens that have been coated. While in jackets Outlast can coat the actual lining. Outlast® coated materials can also be applied to mid-layers put between the first layer and the lining. In that case manufacturers are free to choose any design and first layer they want.