Three years ago, P2i launched its novel nano-coating to the footwear market. Dr Stephen Coulson reviews its latest progress.
It's been over three years since P2i’s Ion-Mask nano-coating was first applied on a commercial scale to footwear. In this time, the water repellent coating has been used by an increasing range of world leading brands and is now also applied to hats and gloves.
Using a multi-patented plasma technique, the process produces an ultra-thin polymer coating on the surface of treated products. This significantly lowers the surface energy, so that on treated surfaces water forms beads and simply rolls off. As the coating is applied at the nano-scale (one thousand times thinner than a human hair), it is invisible to the naked eye and does not affect the natural feel or breathability of the original materials. Unlike membrane technologies, Ion-Mask is not a physical barrier, and so air flow is not affected. This allows the wearer to remain comfortable and dry, while water is resisted from the outside and optimum control of temperature and breathability is maintained.
The Ion-Mask process is different to traditional water repellent finishes as it can be applied to fully assembled products rather than just the fabrics. This has the advantage of treating stitch holes and threads which, if left untreated, would allow water ingress. Furthermore, the technology is applied within a self-contained vacuum chamber and unlike dip coat processes, does not require any organic solvents or heating to dry treated products, making Ion-Mask an environmentally friendly choice.
Additional benefits for shoes treated with Ion-Mask include reduced weight gain during activities, quicker drying times, and reduced stains and dirt uptake, keeping the shoes looking newer for longer. For marathon runners, this means shoes start and finish the race at the same weight, despite perspiration and splashes. Even in dry weather, Ion-Mask is put to work as runners splash water over their bodies at water stations to keep cool. Ensuring the shoes don’t absorb this water allows for the footwear to remain lightweight throughout the race. We often say that with Ion-Mask, dry shoes run faster.
For shoe designers, the ability to modify a material’s surface property provides new opportunity in the selection of fabrics and textiles. A canvas material traditionally selected for its breathability might have previously been discarded as it would have absorbed water and become wet and heavy in a rain shower. However, with Ion-Mask canvas can now maintain its inherent breathability whilst repelling water in challenging environments.
An increasing number of brands in different market sectors have taken up Ion-Mask to provide this technology to their customers. It can now be found on footwear for running, cycling, fashion, casual, performance, outdoor and golf. Since its launch in 2008, nearly two million pairs of shoes have been treated with Ion-Mask.
P2i has responded to this increase in customer demand by scaling up production. With global processing capacity, P2i has operational presence established across Europe, the Americas and Asia. Recent relocation of the processing centre in Asia has allowed for increase in the number and size of nano-coating systems, ensuring enhanced throughput and capacity.
P2i has come on in leaps and bounds in the past three years and, as increased uptake from world leading brands demonstrates that with Ion-Mask, the possibilities are endless. ?