PrimaLoft
Encyclopedia
PrimaLoft is a patented synthetic
microfiber
thermal insulation
material (see United States Patent 4,588,635) that was developed for the United States Army
in the 1980s. PrimaLoft is a registered trademark
of Albany International Corp.
PrimaLoft is used as a synthetic insulation in the outdoor market in outerwear
, glove
s, sleeping bag
s, and footwear
. It is also used as a down alternative in the home furnishings market in pillow
s, comforter
s, and mattress toppers.
In 2010, PrimaLoft was awarded compliance with the bluesign criteria for environmental impact, establishing PrimaLoft as the first branded insulation manufacturer to obtain bluesign’s system partner status.
insulation, whose structure provides exceptional thermal performance in dry conditions, but is not effective when wet.
s, parkas, glove
s, sleeping bag
s and footwear
. PrimaLoft One has the highest warmth-to-weight ratio of any synthetic insulation currently on the market. PrimaLoft One's warmth values, explained further below, can be directly compared to 500 to 550-fill power goose down when dry. No synthetic insulation is able to compare to the insulating ability of a 800 to 900-fill power
down jacket in dry conditions, however in wet conditions a synthetic insulation's thermal properties far exceed that of down. The warmth-per-weight ratio used to measure thermal comfort
of an insulated garment is measured as a "CLO" ratio of clo per ounce per square yard (clo/oz/sqyd). PrimaLoft One has a dry clo/oz/sqyd value of 0.92 and a wet clo/oz/sqyd value of 0.90 - the highest-performing synthetic insulation to this day. Consequently, PrimaLoft is also the most expensive synthetic insulation to manufacture.
Synthetic fiber
Synthetic fibers are the result of extensive research by scientists to improve on naturally occurring animal and plant fibers. In general, synthetic fibers are created by forcing, usually through extrusion, fiber forming materials through holes into the air, forming a thread...
microfiber
Microfiber
Microfiber or microfibre refers to synthetic fibers that measure less than one denier. The most common types of microfibers are made from polyesters, polyamides , and or a conjugation of polyester and polyamide.Microfiber is used to make non-woven, woven and knitted textiles...
thermal insulation
Thermal insulation
Thermal insulation is the reduction of the effects of the various processes of heat transfer between objects in thermal contact or in range of radiative influence. Heat transfer is the transfer of thermal energy between objects of differing temperature...
material (see United States Patent 4,588,635) that was developed for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in the 1980s. PrimaLoft is a registered trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
of Albany International Corp.
PrimaLoft is used as a synthetic insulation in the outdoor market in outerwear
Outerwear
-List of outerwear:* Jacket* Coat* Mittens* Cloaks* Hats* Poncho* Rain pants* Trousers* Scarves*Gloves...
, glove
Glove
A glove is a garment covering the hand. Gloves have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb; if there is an opening but no covering sheath for each finger they are called "fingerless gloves". Fingerless gloves with one large opening rather than individual openings for each...
s, sleeping bag
Sleeping bag
A sleeping bag is a protective "bag" for a person to sleep in, essentially a blanket that can be closed with a zipper or similar means, and functions as a bed in situations where a bed is unavailable . Its primary purpose is to provide warmth and thermal insulation...
s, and footwear
Footwear
Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet, for fashion, protection against the environment, and adornment. Being barefoot is commonly associated with poverty, but some cultures chose not to wear footwear at least in some situations....
. It is also used as a down alternative in the home furnishings market in pillow
Pillow
A pillow is a large cushion support for the head, usually used while sleeping in a bed, or for the body as used on a couch or chair. There are also throw pillows , which are pillows that are purely decorative and not designed for support or comfort...
s, comforter
Comforter
A comforter is a type of blanket. Comforters are intended to keep the user warm, especially during sleep, although they can also be used as mattress pads. Comforters are generally large and rectangular in shape, filled with natural or synthetic insulative material and encased in a shell/covering....
s, and mattress toppers.
In 2010, PrimaLoft was awarded compliance with the bluesign criteria for environmental impact, establishing PrimaLoft as the first branded insulation manufacturer to obtain bluesign’s system partner status.
History
The origins of PrimaLoft are traced back to a contract launched by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Center of Natick, MA in the 1980s for a "synthetic down" to be used in cold weather clothing systems and sleeping bags. Parent company Albany International Corp. had worked on successful military contracts in advanced textiles before, co-developing advanced thermally protective textiles for the US Space Shuttle Orbiter Program. The U.S. Army requested an alternative to goose downDown feather
The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. Very young birds are clad only in down. Powder down is a specialized type of down found only in a few groups of birds. Down is a fine thermal insulator and padding, used in goods such as jackets, bedding,...
insulation, whose structure provides exceptional thermal performance in dry conditions, but is not effective when wet.
Thermal Performance
PrimaLoft is not as lightweight as goose down, however it mimics down's softness, warmth, breathability, and compressibility, while being water resistant. The original patent filed for PrimaLoft insulation, known as "Synthetic Down" and filed in May 1986, describes a particular mix of synthetic microfibers and macrofibers that compares favorably to down. It was proven to provide an equally efficient thermal barrier, be of equivalent density, possess similar compressional properties, have improved wetting and drying characteristics, and have superior loft retention when wet. The latter point illustrates PrimaLoft's primary advantage over down. Unlike down, PrimaLoft is able to retain 96% of its insulating capability when wet by maintaining its loft. As PrimaLoft is able to maintain its loft when wet and continue to trap body heat, it is thus used in clothing and equipment intended to be used in cold, wet conditions, such as jacketJacket
A jacket is a hip- or waist-length garment for the upper body. A jacket typically has sleeves, and fastens in the front. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and less insulating than a coat, which is outerwear...
s, parkas, glove
Glove
A glove is a garment covering the hand. Gloves have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb; if there is an opening but no covering sheath for each finger they are called "fingerless gloves". Fingerless gloves with one large opening rather than individual openings for each...
s, sleeping bag
Sleeping bag
A sleeping bag is a protective "bag" for a person to sleep in, essentially a blanket that can be closed with a zipper or similar means, and functions as a bed in situations where a bed is unavailable . Its primary purpose is to provide warmth and thermal insulation...
s and footwear
Footwear
Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet, for fashion, protection against the environment, and adornment. Being barefoot is commonly associated with poverty, but some cultures chose not to wear footwear at least in some situations....
. PrimaLoft One has the highest warmth-to-weight ratio of any synthetic insulation currently on the market. PrimaLoft One's warmth values, explained further below, can be directly compared to 500 to 550-fill power goose down when dry. No synthetic insulation is able to compare to the insulating ability of a 800 to 900-fill power
Fill power
Fill power is a measure of the loft or "fluffiness" of a down product that is loosely related to the insulating value of the down. The higher the fill power the more insulating air pockets the down has and the better insulating ability. Fill power ranges from about 175 cm³/g for feathers to around...
down jacket in dry conditions, however in wet conditions a synthetic insulation's thermal properties far exceed that of down. The warmth-per-weight ratio used to measure thermal comfort
Thermal comfort
Thermal comfort is a term used by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, an international body. It is defined as the state of mind in humans that expresses satisfaction with the surrounding environment...
of an insulated garment is measured as a "CLO" ratio of clo per ounce per square yard (clo/oz/sqyd). PrimaLoft One has a dry clo/oz/sqyd value of 0.92 and a wet clo/oz/sqyd value of 0.90 - the highest-performing synthetic insulation to this day. Consequently, PrimaLoft is also the most expensive synthetic insulation to manufacture.
Products
- PrimaLoft ONE
- PrimaLoft SPORT
- PrimaLoft SYNERGY
- PrimaLoft ECO
- PrimaLoft INFINITY
- PrimaLoft ECO FOOTWEAR
- PrimaLoft YARN