Coolmax is a functional material developed by DuPont in 1986 and is currently owned by Lycra, which was acquired by China’s Shandong Ruyi Technology Group.
I’ve been seeing Coolmax® tags on men’s clothing for quite some time, but I didn’t know it had a history spanning more than a quarter of a century until doing the research for this article.
Capillary Action
The main functional feature of coolmax is its cross section of the fiber. The cross section of the thread has a special shape (with grooves).
This cross-sectional shape causes capillary action.
Capillary action is when a very thin tube is placed in liquid, the liquid level inside the tube becomes higher (lower) than the liquid level outside the tube.
Now, we’re getting a little too scientific here, but basically, the tiny grooves in Coolmax® fibers act as capillaries to efficiently wick sweat away from the skin.
The absorbed sweat then evaporates on the surface of the fabric.
Coolmax® keeps the inside of the fabric cool by utilizing the heat of vaporization produced by sweat and its excellent breathability.
Special fiber cross section → Capillary action quickly absorbs sweat. → Excellent breathability quickly evaporates sweat. → When evaporating, the heat of vaporization lowers the temperature of the top surface of the fabric → Because of the good breathability, the wind passing through the cooled surface of the fabric feels good.
Easy Care
The greatest feature of Coolmax® is its excellent care properties.
First of all, it has moisture absorption and quick drying properties, which is great for daily care, as it dries laundry quickly, and it can also be ironed using a pressing cloth. It also has excellent fabric stability.
Fabric stability, simply put, means whether or not the fabric is prone to wrinkling.
Looking at it this way, it makes sense why it started out as sportswear and has since become commonly used in men’s business clothing.
*Care instructions vary depending on the fabric blend.
Environmentally friendly
In recent years, COOLMAX®︎ (COOLMAX®︎ECOMADE), made from recycled plastic bottles, has also been released.
With the growing awareness of sustainability, this is becoming mainstream.
Coolmax fabric Introduction
Next, we will introduce some of the Coolmax® fabrics featured on ApprarelX.
12770 Cotton Blend Mock Rody (Coolmax® Fabric)
Coolmax® fabric made with Lycra T400® fiber, with excellent moisture absorption and quick drying properties. A medium-weight knit material with a high gauge and beautiful surface. It features a moderate firmness and stiffness.
909 Coolmax Seersucker
It has a smooth texture and feels good against the skin, and is cool and comfortable to wear. It is a material suitable for summer.
It is made of COOLMAX®︎ECOMADE mesh fabric.
It is highly breathable and quick-drying, making it recommended for summer T-shirts, etc.
The recycled content is 38%.
ECO-9900 COOLMAX® ECOMAID Pique
This is a pique from COOLMAX®︎ECOMADE.
In addition to being moisture wicking and quick drying, it also has UV protection, making it a great fabric for summer sportswear and T-shirts.
The worsted tropical style is expressed using COOLMAX_ material, a linen blend.
This is a new type of material that combines the functionality of a smooth fabric, quick-drying properties, and stretchability with a vintage look.
summary
What do you think?
Coolmax’s quick-drying and moisture-absorbing properties not only make the inside of a mask, which can easily get stuffy, comfortable, but it also dries quickly after washing, making it an easy-care material for cloth masks that can be washed and reused.
Coolmax® material is versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes.
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