Information on the Outlast^® difference to bedding products

Products incorporating Outlast^® technology continuously interact with the unique microclimate of the human body and the environment to moderate temperature from being too hot or too cold to being just right.

The human body naturally sweats to cool the skin, reducing the ability of clothing, footwear and bedding to keep the body dry and comfortable. Outlast^® technology, conversely, will keep individuals comfortable by absorbing body heat when too much is created, thereby diminishing the amount of moisture. Whether you sleep in the fetal position or with one leg hanging off the bed, Outlast^® Adaptive Comfort^® products work to balance your changing temperature. By absorbing your excess heat as it’s created and releasing it as it’s needed, Outlast^®products keep you comfortable all night long. Here are a few more examples of features and benefits of Outlast^® technology:

Mattresses

While you’re resting comfortably, Outlast^® Adaptive Comfort^® mattresses are hard at work. By balancing the temperature swings that cause restless nights, they help you sleep more soundly each and every night.

 

The PCM Technology

Not too hot, not too cold^®... just right

Smart textiles are part of daily life. The same textiles that help astronauts in space and researchers in the Antarctica are also used by consumers in their everyday tasks.

Textiles with phase change materials (PCMs) are used in numerous products and applications from apparel, underwear, socks, accessories and shoes to bedding and sleeping bags. PCMs can even be found in specialty items, such as antiballistic vests, automotive, medical or special industrial applications, where warmth and energy play a role. But how do PCMs work; what is behind the technology?

How it works

Outlast^® technology’s phase change materials (PCMs), incorporated into clothing, interact with the skin’s temperature to provide a buffer against temperature swings.
PCMs are materials that can absorb, store and release heat while the material changes from solid to liquid and back to solid. This is known as a phase change. Water changing from solid (ice) to liquid is an example of this phenomenon. During these phase changes large amounts of heat are absorbed or released.

Microencapsulation of phase change materials

Microencapsulation is the process of capturing small amounts of phase change materials in a shell material so that the phase change materials are permanently enclosed and protected.
The protective polymer shell is very durable and designed to withstand textile production methods used in fiber, yarn spinning, weaving, knitting, and coating applications.
Outlast Technologies microencapsulated PCMs (mPCMs) are called Thermocules™. Thermocules™ can then be applied as a finishing on fabrics or infused into fibers during the manufacturing process.