Polar fleeceis a softfabricmade frompolyesterthat isnappedandinsulating.
PolarFleeceis a trademark registered byMalden Mills(now Polartec, LLC) with theUnited States Patent and Trademark Officeon October 6, 1981.[1]Malden Mills developed polar fleece in 1979.
Uses
editPolar fleece is used injackets,hats,sweaters,sweatpants,cloth diapers(nappies), gym clothes,hoodies,pajamas,blankets, and high-performance outdoor clothing. The produced fleece can be used to create clothes that are very light, soft, and easy to wash. Polar fleece can stretch more easily in one direction than in others.[2]
History
editPolar fleece originated inMassachusettsin 1979 when Malden Mills andPatagoniadeveloped Synchilla (syntheticchinchilla).[3]It was a new, light, strongpile fabricmeant to mimic, and in some ways surpass,wool.Malden Mills CEOAaron Feuersteinintentionally declined topatentpolar fleece, allowing the material to be produced cheaply and widely by many vendors, leading to the material's quick and wide acceptance.[4][5][6]Malden Mills registered PolarFleece as a trademark with theUnited States Patent and Trademark Officeon October 6, 1981.[7]
Characteristics
editVariants
editA lightweight, warm and soft fabric, fleece has some ofwool's good qualities. Polar fleece garments are traditionally available in the micro, 100, 200, and 300 variants, where the numbers represent the fleece's weight in grams per square meter (gsm). The heavier fleece are warmer.
Fleece can range from being high loft to tightlyknit.High loft fleece is warmer because it traps tiny air pockets which holds body heat.[8]Traditionally, polar fleece always had a two-sidedpile(i.e., they were fluffy on both sides), but now clothes are often advertised as polar fleece even if they lack a two-sided pile.[9][10]High pile fleece (which have a higher loft), will eventually lose some loft by becoming matted over time. High pile fleece are also more prone to collecting dirt than low pile fleece.
Fleece can also be made out of recycledpolyethylene terephthalate(PET) bottles, or even recycled fleece.
Maintenance
editTo prevent high pile fleece from matting, they can be brushed regularly (which also removes dirt) and hung rather than folded.[11]To remove already existing matting, rinse it in cool water and while it is still damp, gently and unidirectionally brush the matting out (while optionally lightly spraying it with water), and then use a lint roller.[12]Fleece is machine washable and dries quickly.
Fleece readily generatesstatic electricity,which causes the accumulation oflint,dust, and pet hair. It is also susceptible to damage from high temperature washing,tumble drying,orironingunder unusual conditions. Lower-quality polyester fleece material is also prone topilling(i.e., the jacket's fabrics break and reform into tiny balls on the jacket).
Effectiveness
editIt ishydrophobic,but it is not waterproof and can absorb water. When wet, it holds less than 1% of its weight in water, and depending on its weight takes 1–4 hours to dry (even on your body in cold temperatures).[13][14][15]Fleece loses most of its insulating quality when wet.[16]Regular polar fleece is notwindproof.[17][18]
Microfiber pollution
editWashing synthetic textiles like fleece releases microfibers, a type ofmicroplastic.[19]The release of these microfibers into the wastewater is proportional to the microplastic pollution in soil, marine, and freshwater habitats.[20]Studies also show that tumble drying of polyester releases airbornemicroplastics.[21]
References
edit- ^Polarfleece; Registration Number 1297628; Malden Mills, Inc., 46 Stafford St. Lawrence, Massachusetts 01841; First use June 16, 1980; Filing Date October 6, 1981; Published for Opposition July 17, 1984; Registration Date September 25, 1984
- ^Polar Fleece history and the history of pile fabricsBookrags.com
- ^Greenbaum, Hilary; Rubinstein, Dana (November 25, 2011)."The Evolution of Fleece, From Scratchy to Snuggie".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedAugust 3,2015.
- ^"Xavier hosting Aaron Feuerstein on March 30".Citizens For A Better Norwood. June 29, 2009.
- ^Shafran, Avi (June 22, 2002)."Mr. Feuerstein is a legend in the corporate world, keeping his employees on the payroll until the plant could be rebuilt after a fire. His company went bankrupt, and was purchased out of bankruptcy, yet he doesn't regret a thing".
- ^"Aaron Feuerstein".YouTube.July 7, 2006.Archivedfrom the original on December 22, 2021.
- ^Polarfleece; Registration Number 1297628; Malden Mills, Inc., 46 Stafford St. Lawrence, Massachusetts 01841; First use June 16, 1980; Filing Date October 6, 1981; Published for Opposition July 17, 1984; Registration Date September 25, 1984
- ^"Backpackers Guide to Fleece Jackets 2021: Is it Warm and Breathable?".Backpackers.com.RetrievedNovember 21,2023.
- ^"Understanding the Different Types of Fleece Fabrics".Fabrics Galore.August 26, 2020.RetrievedNovember 21,2023.
- ^Keefe, Ben (January 7, 2022)."From Sherpa To Slub: The Types Of Fleece To Know".Heddels.RetrievedNovember 21,2023.
- ^"Caring For Your Deep Pile Fleece".Gorp Goods.June 13, 2021.RetrievedNovember 21,2023.
- ^Higson, Alex (September 28, 2021)."How To Fix Matted Sherpa? A Step-By-Step Guide".Magic of Clothes.RetrievedNovember 21,2023.
- ^"Fleece Jacket Guide | Backcountry.com".www.backcountry.com.Archivedfrom the original on September 11, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 11,2024.
- ^Moisture BufferingArchivedOctober 25, 2007, at theWayback Machine
- ^Choosing and Using a Quarter Sheet.Discussion of characteristics of wool vs. fleece
- ^Unknown (November 28, 2012)."Wood Trekker: Fleece vs. Wool Insulation".Wood Trekker.Archivedfrom the original on May 22, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 11,2024.
- ^Polartec Windpro web pageArchivedFebruary 17, 2012, at theWayback Machine
- ^Polartec Windpro web pageArchivedFebruary 17, 2012, at theWayback Machine
- ^Pirc, U.; Vidmar, M.; Mozer, A.; Kržan, A. (2016)."Emissions of microplastic fibers from microfiber fleece during domestic washing".Environmental Science and Pollution Research International.23(21): 22206–22211.Bibcode:2016ESPR...2322206P.doi:10.1007/s11356-016-7703-0.ISSN0944-1344.PMC5099352.PMID27658400.
- ^Šaravanja, Ana; Pušić, Tanja; Dekanić, Tihana (April 2022)."Microplastics in Wastewater by Washing Polyester Fabrics".Materials.15(7): 2683.Bibcode:2022Mate...15.2683S.doi:10.3390/ma15072683.PMC9000408.PMID35408015.
- ^Science, Public Library of Science (April 6, 2022)."Tumble dryers release microfibers into environment at levels comparable to washers".phys.org.RetrievedApril 22,2022.