Although you normally don't see it or touch it, the Moisture Barrier's job is so critical that it's the most tested material in a turnout.
The Moisture Barrier must be waterproof and highly breathable, so that perspiration vapor and heat trapped inside the turnout can be quickly released without permitting the reverse entry of moisture and bloodborne pathogens.
An important measure of Moisture Barrier effectiveness is the amount of energy transferred through the turnout, expressed as Total Heat Loss (THL). One of the body's natural functions is to dissipate excess heat, the cause of heat stress. This validates the importance of THL testing.
CROSSTECH® moisture barrier is an enhanced bi-component membrane that is laminated to a flame-resistant DuPont™ NOMEX® IIIA woven pajama check fabric. The end result is a barrier fabric that is highly breathable and liquid penetration resistant to blood, body fluids, NFPA common liquids*, and water. The total performance of CROSSTECH® moisture barrier is unmatched by any other liquid barrier product.
We also recommend moisture barriers from W.L. Gore & Associates because their barriers provide increased thermal stability (ability to endure higher temperatures and higher heat fluxes) than any other competitive moisture barriers.
CROSSTECH® 2-Layer
(Globe #4)
This moisture barrier has earned a well-deserved reputation for being the best in the world. As the inventors of liquid resistant and breathable PTFE films, W.L. Gore & Associates have spent three decades improving this ciritical technology. Widely recognized for being the most protective and the most breathable, Globe recommends CROSSTECH® moisture barrier above all others.
| Substrate : |
NOMEX® fabric woven from spun fibers |
| Film : |
Enhanced bi-compoonent ePTFE membrane |
| Total Weight : |
5.0 oz2 |
| Supplier : |
W.L. Gore & Associates |
| Attributes : |
- The best liquid resistant and breathable moisture barrier
- Thin and flexible
- The most breathable
|
GORE RT7100™
(Globe #D)
For those who need premium performance at a value price, GORE™ RT7100 moisture barrier provides an excellent alternative. Utilizing their years of experience in ePTFE technology, W.L. Gore & Associates developed an alternative barrier consisting of a membrance laminated to a non-woven NOMEX™ substrate. This combination delivers thermal stability, waterproof perfomance and a high level of breathability. If you can't afford CROSSTECH® moisture barrier, this is the moisture barrier to buy.
| Substrate: |
NOMEX® non-woven spunlace |
| Film: |
Bi-component ePTFE membrane |
| Total Weight: |
4.0 oz/yd2 |
| Supplier: |
W.L. Gore & Associates |
| Attributes: |
- Better liquid resistance, breathable moisture barrier
- Lightweight and flexible
|
CROSSTECH® 3-Layer
(Globe #F)
For those who want the highest durability in the most rigorous situations, CrOSSteCH® 3-layer moisture barrier provides the best durability/tHl/tPP combinations possible.
| Top Substrate : |
NOMEX® fabric woven from spun fibers (pajama check) |
| Bottom Substrate : |
NOMEX® fabric woven from spun fibers (patent pending) |
| Film : |
Enhanced bi-compoonent ePTFE membrane |
| Total Weight : |
7.0 oz2 |
| Supplier : |
W.L. Gore & Associates |
| Attributes : |
- Most durable flex and abrasion resistance
- Best durability/THL/TPP combinations
|
* NFPA defined "common liquids": Battery acid [37% sulfuric], ASTM Ref. Fuel C [unleaded gasoline surrogate], hydraulic fluid [phosphate-ester], aqueous film-forming foam [AFFF], and swimming pool chlorine solution [65% free CI].
|
