rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > [snip] These waterproof/breathable Palm items > are supposed to be quite lightweight which is an advantage and breath > via a coating rather than membrane, referring competitively to Goretex, > and therefore not likely "to clog." It's the skeptical chemist speaking here: Membrane, shmembrane, coating, shcoating, if it's a breathable waterproof fabric, it's pretty much all the same technology. A coating is a membrane by another name, perhaps differing in thickness by a few millionths of an inch. The Palm assertion that a "coating" is less likely than a membrane to "clog" is highly suspect. Whatever its name, each depends on having submicroscopic holes in a water-repelling layer (coating, membrane, you pick the label) which water vapor molecules can diffuse through, but which water **droplets** -- being larger -- can not wick through. If the Palm coating is appreciably thinner than Gore's membrane, then it might be more breathable (at the same waterproofness), but I would question its durability. Even the Goretex membrane, field-tested and improved on for over twenty years, eventually will develop cracks and voids, allowing water droplets through. I think the Palm claim is marketing hype, but, as usual, I could be wrong. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR organic cheist *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Mar 03 1999 - 08:26:30 PST
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