W. L Gore & Associates, the global material science company that specializes in products derived from fluoropolymers, has announced a new product that offers a thinner, lighter, and more sustainable material for use across a wide spectrum of brands.
This new membrane technology will enable brands like Adidas, Arc’teryx, Salmon, Ziener, Dakine, Patagonia, etc. to manufacture products with enhanced breathability and better water & wind resistance, in about half the thickness.
Also known as ePE by Gore-Tex, this membrane is created by combining expanded polyethylene with polyurethane and is all set to debut in fall 2022.
“As a material science and innovation organization, we are committed to using our expertise to constantly explore material advancements,” says Ross MacLaine, Gore global fabrics sustainability leader.
ePE leverages a high strength-to-weight ratio for a thin, lightweight but extremely durable product. While microporous polyethylene has been around for years, it lacks the required durability for windproof, waterproof, and breathable apparel. Gore-Tex met this challenge head-on by manipulating polyethylene to create a highly porous, but much stronger polymer framework. The manipulated material returned better porosity allowing the vapor to pass while keeping wind and rain at bay.
“The membrane material is the functional foundation of a broader system,” says Matt Decker, global technical and innovation leader for consumer fabrics. “It is a microporous material that is a wonderful scaffold as a base material for creating waterproof and breathable fabrics.”
Gore’s extensive on-field research shows that this new membrane’s reduced thickness (half the existing membranes’), makes it an ideal material for apparel, footwear, and accessories.
This polyurethane-based ePE has just the right characteristics of being lightweight and durable, allowing the membrane to easily bond with laminates to form a Gore-Tex laminate.
“Much of the knowledge that we’ve developed over the last 40 years isn’t specific to a singular material,” says Decker. “This expertise and deep understanding of our applications is what enables us to create complementary, durable ePE products for use in Gore-Tex brand consumer products.”
Gore’s new membrane also reduces carbon footprint, as measured by Higg MSI, during the creation of the product by producing a material sans PFCs of Environmental Concern by using non-fluorinated materials.
“ePE is a natural extension of our history and tied to our heritage,” Decker says, adding that the material will help Gore-Tex “move toward the future” in both sustainability and performance.
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