11:36:00 AM
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.
Fake fur is exactly what it sounds like, a synthetic fabric. Yesterday's synthetics didn't feel quite right. They lacked breathability and did not feel comfortable against the skin. Now they are luxuriously fleecy and inviting. They are also low in price, so it is possible to have every member in the family with a bed covering in their choice of color. They are also useful to put over furniture to protect it from pets or to hunker down into while watching television.
Synthetic blankets are available in a range of bright colors, muted tones or even animal prints. They come in all sizes from baby blankets to those that are suitable for the easy chair or sofa, to giant, mega-comfy articles to have on the bed. They are better than a comforter, which may be filled with duck down or goose feathers, in that they are easy to clean. Just toss them in the washing machine and either hang them on the clothesline outdoors when the weather is fine, or in the clothes dryer when it is cold or wet outside.
So what lies on the horizon for the next generation of blankets and throws? Zero-loft aerogels are one possible material from which tomorrow's bed coverings might be made. Loft is a measure of a fabric's thickness, a down comforter, for example, that is filled with a compressible material for insulation. Zero-loft aerogels offer two or more times the thermal performance of a conventional comforter or duvet without the extra thickness.
Loft-free fabrics have an advantage over conventional filled blankets for outdoor use, especially if they get wet. The insulating layer of air between the layers of down or other material is what provides warmth. These layers become compressed when the material gets wet and lose their ability to provide warmth.
Another promising material on the horizon is hydrophobic down. This stuff is coated with a water repellant compound. Even after being soaked in water for three minutes, hydrophobic down hangs on to 80 percent of its original loft.
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 moving forward at a rapid rate. What we are now luxuriating underneath in front of the television, we could be cleaning our cars with tomorrow. What lies ahead? Blankets that compare the ambient temperature to our own body temperature and adjust themselves to keep us at the optimum temp? Maybe they will have lavender or other bed-time scents embedded in them.
Fake fur is exactly what it sounds like, a synthetic fabric. Yesterday's synthetics didn't feel quite right. They lacked breathability and did not feel comfortable against the skin. Now they are luxuriously fleecy and inviting. They are also low in price, so it is possible to have every member in the family with a bed covering in their choice of color. They are also useful to put over furniture to protect it from pets or to hunker down into while watching television.
Synthetic blankets are available in a range of bright colors, muted tones or even animal prints. They come in all sizes from baby blankets to those that are suitable for the easy chair or sofa, to giant, mega-comfy articles to have on the bed. They are better than a comforter, which may be filled with duck down or goose feathers, in that they are easy to clean. Just toss them in the washing machine and either hang them on the clothesline outdoors when the weather is fine, or in the clothes dryer when it is cold or wet outside.
So what lies on the horizon for the next generation of blankets and throws? Zero-loft aerogels are one possible material from which tomorrow's bed coverings might be made. Loft is a measure of a fabric's thickness, a down comforter, for example, that is filled with a compressible material for insulation. Zero-loft aerogels offer two or more times the thermal performance of a conventional comforter or duvet without the extra thickness.
Loft-free fabrics have an advantage over conventional filled blankets for outdoor use, especially if they get wet. The insulating layer of air between the layers of down or other material is what provides warmth. These layers become compressed when the material gets wet and lose their ability to provide warmth.
Another promising material on the horizon is hydrophobic down. This stuff is coated with a water repellant compound. Even after being soaked in water for three minutes, hydrophobic down hangs on to 80 percent of its original loft.
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 moving forward at a rapid rate. What we are now luxuriating underneath in front of the television, we could be cleaning our cars with tomorrow. What lies ahead? Blankets that compare the ambient temperature to our own body temperature and adjust themselves to keep us at the optimum temp? Maybe they will have lavender or other bed-time scents embedded in them.
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
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