100 percent waterproof ... bollocks?

Paging SWK:

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/08/27/new_waterproofing_technology_pioneered_by_uk_firm/

and

http://www.p2i-labs.co.uk/Newsstory9.html

"UK company Plasma Product Innovations (P2i) today demonstrated a
chemical process it claims can render any material 100 per cent
waterproof..."

The article goes on to mention:

"Ion-mask surface-enhancement nanotechnology can treat everyday objects
without altering the look, design or feel of the material," said P2i's
Dr Ian Roberts. "The plasma process enables water-repellent molecules
to chemically bond to the fibres of the footwear on a sub-microscopic
scale rendering the product either waterproof or hydrophobic."

just wondered, as it *sounds* like bollocks, but might be nice to have
really waterproof leathers if it were true ... anyone have any idea?

 

djb wrote:

You'd still have the problem of the seams and zips.

 

Not me then

Hmm, well it sounds plausible, but some of their statements are not
quite correct, e.g. "Ion-masked material also acts differently to
Gore-Tex, as this is essentially a membrane that acts as a sponge so
the water actually absorbed. Ion-masked material repels water
molecules."

"P2i’s ion-mask™ enhancement process can take an ordinary shoe off the
end of the manufacturing line or retail outlet shelf that would
normally fail the shoe flex test and render it water resistant."


So not 100% waterproof then?

Still, looks interesting - I'll be looking to see when it hits the
mountainwear market.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Shouldn't do. Outdoor clothing has had that one taped[1] for years.

[1] Pun intended, but taped seams and zips are well-established and
work very well.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Of course, but I didn't know if the techniques used for waterproofing
zips and seams on other textiles would be applicable to leather.

 

OIC. Well I guess they could be, if the leather itself has been made
waterproof. Gore-tex XTR and the like provide the level of flexibility
that you'd need for leather. TBH I'm quite surprised that it's not
already been done, but I guess it's down to the fact that you need to
sandwich the membrane between other layers, so not really suitable for
most single-thickness leathers.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Well, my bollocks seems to be pretty waterproof.

But they do go wrinkly if they're kept in warm water for a long time.

HTH.

 

I find the biggest problem with waterproof clothes is the water that
comes from inside, not out. Breathability is important.

 

http://www.halcyon.net/exposure/discharge.shtml

 

The headline and 1st paragraph at reghardware seem to misrepresent the
press release form the manufacturer.

p2i don't make the 100% waterproof claim. They make comparisons to membrane
technology and use the word hydrophilic a lot.

 

that seems to be another case of reghardware making stuff up. The p2i press
release says, "Unlike conventional waterproof treatments that require
additional layers to be sewn into the shoe during manufacture, which add
weight and can result in poor fit of the shoe"