To keep themselves warm at night, cave men would cover themselves with pelts from animals. They might even have woven fabrics made from plant material. Later on, people used woolen blankets. Today, the faux fur throw blanket is all the rage. This article looks at what materials are looming on the horizon for tomorrow's bed coverings.
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.
Today's man-made fibers are made in any color the customer could ask for, as well as a range of different patterns, including animal prints. They are made in all sizes for wrapping baby, to protecting the furniture and for using as bedding. Whereas a comforter, which may be stuffed with goose feathers or duck down, has to be dry cleaned, today's synthetic can be laundered along with the sheets and towels. Instead of schlepping a heavy duvet to the dry cleaners or laundromat with a heavy-duty washing machine, just throw it in the washing machine at home and either hang it on the washing line outdoors or use the clothes dryer.
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.
Gore-Tex is gradually being replaced as an outdoor fabric. The main complaint among skiers and other users is that Gore-Tex does not breathe, which makes them feel sweaty inside. New air-permeable fabrics are being developed that promote the flow of air, which carries moisture away from the body. This material might have other uses as a blanket material.
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.
Today's man-made fibers are made in any color the customer could ask for, as well as a range of different patterns, including animal prints. They are made in all sizes for wrapping baby, to protecting the furniture and for using as bedding. Whereas a comforter, which may be stuffed with goose feathers or duck down, has to be dry cleaned, today's synthetic can be laundered along with the sheets and towels. Instead of schlepping a heavy duvet to the dry cleaners or laundromat with a heavy-duty washing machine, just throw it in the washing machine at home and either hang it on the washing line outdoors or use the clothes dryer.
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.
Gore-Tex is gradually being replaced as an outdoor fabric. The main complaint among skiers and other users is that Gore-Tex does not breathe, which makes them feel sweaty inside. New air-permeable fabrics are being developed that promote the flow of air, which carries moisture away from the body. This material might have other uses as a blanket material.
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.
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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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