One hundred years ago, people were very limited in what sort of fabric they used to keep themselves warm at night. Blankets were usually made from wool or from patches of material sewn together and then layered with other fabric to produce a quilt. Today, the faux fur throw blanket is a popular alternative to conventional blanketing fabric.
Faux fur is a type of synthetic fabric. Synthetic coverings used to feel thin and somewhat scratchy or plastic. They did not breathe and so were uncomfortable in that they provided a sort of greenhouse effect. Today's synthetics are soft, fluffy and addictively comfortable. They are also easily affordable, so everybody in the house can have their own, and a household can have several back-up throws for company or for picnics, camping, putting in the car, etc.
These wonderful objects are not only produced in a huge range of colors, they are available in a variety of prints and patterns, from floral or geometric to ersatz animal skins. They come in all sizes, from baby-size to king-sized bed sized. Today's coverings are also easier to launder than yesterday's duck-down duvet. Instead of trudging to the dry cleaners with a bulky duvet or comforter, faux blankets can go into the washing machine and tumble-dried or hung up outside on the washing line.
So, what comes next? Here are some new fabrics used for outerwear that could reasonably adapted to use in bedding. One possibility is zero-loft aerogels. The term loft refers to the thickness of a fabric, like a down duvet. These are filled with compressible insulating material. New zero-loft aerogels provide two or three times the thermal performance of a down- or feather-filled duvet without the clumsy bulk. Some people like the bulk, and may have to get used to something thinner.
Zero-loft aerogel has the advantage over feathers or down in that it is not as bulky. Also, aerogel is better when wet. Feathers and down compress when they are wet, losing the insulating layer of air. Aerogels do not have this problem.
Hydrophobic down is another fabric material that is undergoing development for commercial use. Here, the down is coated with a water repellant. Hydrophobic down can retain as much as 80 percent of its loft after three minutes in water.
Air permeable fabrics are gaining favor over Gore-Tex as an outerwear fabric, especially among skiers and others who spend a lot of time in the cold, wet outdoors. It may or may not have potential as a material for tomorrow's bed coverings. The problem with Gore-Tex is its lack of breathability. Newer air permeable materials allow enough airflow to to carry moisture away from the body.
Materials technology is advancing all the time. Today's comfortable bed covering could turn out to be tomorrow's polishing cloth. Who knows what we will be throwing onto our beds and snuggling underneath in tomorrow's world. Maybe they will be pleasantly scented to encourage sleep, adjust the temperature to keep the occupant not too hot or not too cold in the changing conditions, maybe they will play a pleasant melody to drift off to sleep to.
Faux fur is a type of synthetic fabric. Synthetic coverings used to feel thin and somewhat scratchy or plastic. They did not breathe and so were uncomfortable in that they provided a sort of greenhouse effect. Today's synthetics are soft, fluffy and addictively comfortable. They are also easily affordable, so everybody in the house can have their own, and a household can have several back-up throws for company or for picnics, camping, putting in the car, etc.
These wonderful objects are not only produced in a huge range of colors, they are available in a variety of prints and patterns, from floral or geometric to ersatz animal skins. They come in all sizes, from baby-size to king-sized bed sized. Today's coverings are also easier to launder than yesterday's duck-down duvet. Instead of trudging to the dry cleaners with a bulky duvet or comforter, faux blankets can go into the washing machine and tumble-dried or hung up outside on the washing line.
So, what comes next? Here are some new fabrics used for outerwear that could reasonably adapted to use in bedding. One possibility is zero-loft aerogels. The term loft refers to the thickness of a fabric, like a down duvet. These are filled with compressible insulating material. New zero-loft aerogels provide two or three times the thermal performance of a down- or feather-filled duvet without the clumsy bulk. Some people like the bulk, and may have to get used to something thinner.
Zero-loft aerogel has the advantage over feathers or down in that it is not as bulky. Also, aerogel is better when wet. Feathers and down compress when they are wet, losing the insulating layer of air. Aerogels do not have this problem.
Hydrophobic down is another fabric material that is undergoing development for commercial use. Here, the down is coated with a water repellant. Hydrophobic down can retain as much as 80 percent of its loft after three minutes in water.
Air permeable fabrics are gaining favor over Gore-Tex as an outerwear fabric, especially among skiers and others who spend a lot of time in the cold, wet outdoors. It may or may not have potential as a material for tomorrow's bed coverings. The problem with Gore-Tex is its lack of breathability. Newer air permeable materials allow enough airflow to to carry moisture away from the body.
Materials technology is advancing all the time. Today's comfortable bed covering could turn out to be tomorrow's polishing cloth. Who knows what we will be throwing onto our beds and snuggling underneath in tomorrow's world. Maybe they will be pleasantly scented to encourage sleep, adjust the temperature to keep the occupant not too hot or not too cold in the changing conditions, maybe they will play a pleasant melody to drift off to sleep to.
About the Author:
Buy luxury and low priced faux fur throw blanket directly from the online store. We highly recommend this reputable supplier's website at http://www.furaccents.com
No comments:
Post a Comment