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DuPont’s CoolMax makes sweat a non-issue

Sweat ain’t pretty, and too much of it definitely isn’t cool (contrary to popular opinion at your local gym). But the good news is that the performance fabric from DuPont, CoolMax makes sweat a non-issue.

When your body produces excessive amounts of sweat, it means it’s using its energy to try and keep cool. This is energy you could be using to perform. If the sweat doesn’t evaporate quickly, your body core temperature heats up, producing more sweat.

Why CoolMax?

The performance fabric from DuPont, CoolMax makes sweat a non-issue. The specially-engineered DuPont fibers used in CoolMax fabrics transport perspiration away from the body to the surface of the garment, where it can evaporate quickly. At the same time, the uniquely-shaped fibers provide great breathability, even when wet. The breathability (called air permeability by fabric techies) further enhances the thermoregulatory effect. You stay dry. You stay comfortable. And you have more energy and endurance. That’s why.

What’s CoolMax?

DuPont CoolMax is a high-performance fabric that can help the athletic performance of the people who wear it. Using DuPont’s proprietary Dacron; fibers, CoolMax moves sweat away from the body to the outer layer of the fabric, where it dries faster than any other fabric. (In moisture management tests, garments made with CoolMax dried almost completely in 30 minutes. Cotton, by comparison, remained wet by nearly 50%.

Sweat saps your strength. Better evaporation means you spend less energy to cool your body, which increases your performance and endurance. And because CoolMax has better breathability, nothing’s more comfortable to wear. Look for CoolMax in shirts, socks, running tights, bodywear, sports bras, even career apparel. Not to mention, in the wardrobes of some of the world’s premier athletes.

The proof

Moisture management tests clearly indicate that CoolMax dries much faster than other fabrics. For example, CoolMax dried almost completely in just 30 minutes, while cotton retained 50% more moisture. The bottom line? CoolMax = comfort; cotton = clammy. In addition, the table below compares CoolMax to competitive fabrics on three critical characteristics: moisture management, breathability, and ease-of-care. As you can see, the coolest is also the most carefree.

Success stories

It’s one thing to test a product in a lab, but the true test occurs in life. Hot names such as Billie Jean King, Team Devo cycling, and NYPD BIKE (that is, New York City Police Department bicycle patrol officers) keep cool with CoolMax.

Story 1: Billie Jean King

Bllie Jean King is one of the best-known names in tennis. So she’s not going to let her name be used to endorse a product unless she’s tried it herself. “I did my own little experiments this year with some DuPont products,” says Billie Jean. For my daily workout on the stationary bike, one day I wore a 100% cotton T-shirt as I normally would, and the next day I wore a CoolMax shirt. I couldn’t believe the difference in how much cooler I felt and how much faster my T-shirt dried with CoolMax.”

Story 2: NYPD Bicycle Patrol

Summer in the city. And nowhere do things heat up more than in New Yok, when the Big Apple becomes the Baked Apple. Now the bicycle patrol of New York’s Finest will have the finest in performance fabrics to keep them cool, thanks to new uniform shirts made of DuPont CoolMax.

DuPont virtually created the performance fabrics category with the introduction of CoolMax in 1986. Used initially by elite athletes in cycling and running, CoolMax set the benchmark for moisture management and performance fabrics. In 1999, the CoolMax brand expanded with the introduction of CoolMax Alta, which combines DuPont’s patented low-pill technology with the fast drying properties of CoolMax.

DuPont is a science company, delivering science-based solutions that make a difference in people’s lives in food and nutrition; health care; apparel; home and construction; electronics; and transportation. Founded in 1802, the company operates in 65 countries and has 97,000 employees. CoolMax and CoolMax Alta are registered trademarks of DuPont.

Lab tests show panty liners made of DuPont CoolMax performance fabrics provide best breathability and stain resistance

A research study shows panty liners made of CoolMax performance fabrics outperformed 100 per cent cotton liners and the popular Ultimair liner found in the Wundies line of panties by drying faster, being more breathable and repelling stains better. These findings are significant women’s panties provide the best breathability to help prevent infections, and staining is one of the main reasons that women discard their underwear. “CoolMax has very real performance benefits which is why it is the number one fabric lining used in sports bras, and the results from these studies provide us with excellent data that will help us expand our CoolMax and CoolMax Alta offerings in intimate apparel,” said Roseann Beutell, intimate apparel segment manager for DuPont CoolMax.

“The increased adoption of CoolMax in intimate apparel will provide women with technologically superior and long-wearing undergarments. Numerous women’s health professionals and agencies have cited moisture as one of the leading factors in the cause of vaginal and yeast infections. Most experts recommend that women avoid wearing undergarments that trap moisture in order to help prevent infections. According to a 1998 fact sheet from the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, doctors estimate that approximately 75 per cent of all women will experience at least one symptomatic yeast infection in their lifetime.

Duke University’s Community and Family Medicine Department encourages women to protect themselves from getting infections as “Some infectious organisms thrive in hot, moist environments, especially those created by nylon panties, tight jeans, wet bathing suits and pantyhose.”

CoolMax tested against cotton and popular brand of liners

The two-part study tested panty liners for performance and stain-resistance. For uniformity and objectivity, both labs compared the same three types of panties in all trials - a pair of 100 per cent cotton panties with 100 per cent cotton panty liner in a plain jersey construction: a pair of Wundies with an Ultimair liner; and a pair of panties made of CoolMax and Lycra with a 100 per cent CoolMax liner in a mesh construction. The DuPont Laboratory in Charlotte, North Carolina measured wicking and drying rates as well as air permeability. Results showed that while all three samples wicked equally, when it came to the CoolMax panty liner, it clearly beat the competition in drying time and air permeability. After 40 minutes, the CoolMax liner was 88 per cent dry while the Wundies liner was only 61 per cent dry, and the cotton liner was 61 per cent dry. Although the CoolMax liner was 25 per cent lighter and thinner than the other two liners, it was found to be more than twice as breathable.

Researchers at the Textile Innovators Corporation tested the three different liners for stain-resistance using blood, sweat, urine an feces, common stains found in underwear. While all three types of liners did not show staining from urine or sweat, blood left a significant stain on the cotton liner and the Ultimair liner. Fecal matter was not evident on the Ultimair liner but left a significant stain on the cotton liner. In all trials, the CoolMax liners did not show any traces of staining whatsoever from the four types of matter used.

Trade in the cotton panties

While cotton does absorb moisture very well, it dries extremely slow and prolongs the presence of moisture which is why many companies like Moving Comfort, Title 9 and TravelSmith, have already introduced undergarments made of CoolMax to provide consumers with enhanced personal comfort.

Results from this research study clearly confirm that CoolMax and CoolMax Alta performance fabrics surpass both cotton and the UltimAir liners with faster drying, outstanding breathability and stain resistance benefits. And since CoolMax and CoolMax Alta are not treated with chemicals, laminates or electrostatic treatments, the moisture management and comfort benefits won’t wash out over time.

CoolMax is currently the leading brand of performance fabrics found in sports bras and fitness apparel because of its exceptional wicking and fast drying properties.