Durable, Waterproof Fabric Inspired by Mammal Fur

Innovation: Industry

Nikwax

1983

Image: Wolfgang Hasselmann / Unsplash / CC BY SA - Creative Commons Attribution + ShareAlike

Protect From Excess Liquids

While water is essential to life, too much water or other liquids can overwhelm living systems. Excess liquids can, for example, decrease a living system’s access to oxygen, promote excessive bacterial or fungal growth, or strip away soil and nutrients. To prevent the accumulation of excess liquids, living systems must control the movement of liquids across their boundaries or surfaces. They do so using waterproofing materials or structures, slowing flow, and/or facilitating flow to move the liquid away. Plant leaves, for example, commonly have waxy surfaces comprised of water-repelling chemicals to keep water from engorging the leaves or facilitating bacterial and fungal growth.

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Protect From Wind

Wind subjects living systems to various forces, such as compression, twisting, turbulence, and tension. These forces put living systems at risk of losing the ability to perform life-essential functions, such as when a plant becomes uprooted. Wind can result from weather phenomena or rapid movement through the air, as when flying. Wind is typically not a constant or predictable force, so living systems must be able to function both with and without its presence by adjusting to its direction and speed. A good example is how plants’ leaves and stems are flexible so that they can align with the wind, rather than being battered by it.

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Protect From Temperature

Many living systems function best within specific temperature ranges. Temperatures higher or lower than that range can negatively impact a living system’s physiological or chemical processes, and damage its exterior or interior. Living systems must manage high or low temperatures using minimal energy, which often requires controlling responses along incremental temperature changes. To do so, living systems use a variety of strategies, such as avoiding high or low temperatures, removing excess heat, and holding heat in. Insulation is a well-known example of managing low temperatures by retaining heat using thick layers of hair, fur, or feathers to hold warm air next to the skin.

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Patents

Nikwax Analogy from Nikwax is a dual-layered fabric that draws water away from the body, helping keep the user dry.

Benefits

Reduced chemicals
Durable weather protection
Breathable
Moisture control

Applications

Textiles
Clothing

UN Sustainable Development Goals Addressed

Goal 12: Responsible Production & Consumption

The Challenge

Waterproof jackets usually consist of a membrane that keeps water out and traps water in. If the water remains inside of the jacket, the user may become cold. Many jackets are treated with chemicals to provide waterproofing and insulation.

Innovation Details

The Nikwax Analogy® system has an inner layer, called the pump liner, which mimics the action of animal fur by pushing water outwards to protect from rain, condensation and perspiration, while also providing insulation. The pump liner is covered by a durable densely woven outer layer, which provides windproofing and deflects rain.

Biological Model

Mammals are able to force water droplets away from their skin due to the arrangement of their fur. The dense, water repellent layer of fur along the skin forces water droplets away from the body where fur is less dense, causing “directionality” of the water droplets.

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