HeiQ Materials, a Swiss producer of high performance sustainable effects for textiles, has invited its brand partners to test its GLIDER textile surface treatment on their various fabrics and to sample its recently created GLIDER Hangtags.

The company’s GLIDER is said to reduce friction and increase textile comfort, helping to combat rubbing, chafing and blisters.

Friction and injuries

Friction is the force resisting the motion between two surfaces in contact and appears to be one of the key factors that lower the perceived comfort of textiles. Controlling friction leads to improved comfort, a key interest for sport and outdoor brands and athletes alike, the company notes.

Friction due to fabric rubbing may cause local skin heat up, wetting of the skin and skin irritation, which in severe cases may lead to skin injuries, such as blisters and wounds.

Comfortable and durable

According to HeiQ, several elements impact the coefficient of friction: fibre and yarn composition and structure, fabric structure and construction, fabric moisture content, skin conditions and fabric surface treatment.

Friction can be reduced by applying lubricating agents or antiperspirants in order to keep the garment dry. However, HeiQ says, these conventional solutions are not optimal as direct skin application may not be comfortable and durable.

HeiQ’s GLIDER is said to help the wearer feel more comfortable and at ease while moving and during sport. In-house HeiQ tests, and also independent tests by EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), have demonstrated that GLIDER treatment moderates the friction properties of textiles.

Applications

According to the manufacturer, GLIDER is suitable for different types of clothing including athletics, sports, underwear and workwear.

Currently, the product range consists of two available products: HeiQ Glider FREE, suitable for synthetics (PES, PA, etc.) and blends with cellulosic, and HeiQ Glider CEL, which is appropriate for cellulosic fabrics (such as cotton).

In order to achieve a full comfort treatment, GLIDER can be combined with ADAPTIVE and PURE for an additional dynamic cooling effect and for a natural freshness effect, respectively.

www.heiq.com