What EXACTLY is the chemical coating on the outside of GoreTex?
I've got a pretty good understanding of how GoreTex works.
I understand that the outside chemical coating effectivly holds water off the outer layer (using little chemical spikes).
But I can't quite seem to find out what the coating on the outside (when new) is? What's it's name or chemical symbols, etc?
the reason I'm asking (and is also a secondary question) is, do the standard replacement products (all of which are not made by GoreTex themselves) contain the same chemical, exactly?
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/q/5113. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
1 answer
The chemical coating on the outside when new is what is commonly known as DWR and chemically known as a Fluoropolymer. Fluoropolymer is a fluorocarbon based polymer with multiple strong carbon–fluorine bonds. It is characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases.
This is the same chemical treatment used on all water resistant fabrics.
Gore-Tex uses this coating to prevent the outer layer of fabric from becoming saturated with water. This saturation, called 'wetting out,' can reduce the garment's breathability (moisture transport through the breathable membrane) and let water through.
As the DWR wears off over time, re-treatment is recommended when necessary.
This post was sourced from https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/5115. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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