Nov 17, 2011

Outlast unveils scientific benefits for bedding

By Charlotte Rogers (published ei.wtin.com)
Thu Nov 17 2011, 15:29 PM

Outlast has developed products containing phase change materials (PCM) that manage temperature and humidity for optimal sleep, which it plans to demonstrate at Heimtextil in January.
According to researchers, human body core temperatures fall in the first half of the night by approximately 1°C. This is mostly done by transpiration, the body’s own cooling mechanism. By evaporation of moisture, the skin and blood circulation is cooled.
Outlast bedding products are designed to reduce overheating and shivering, distributing warmth more regularly. Outlast PCMs work to absorb and store excess body heat, releasing it back when needed. According to the company, sweating is reduced and the temperature balanced.
The THG AreaView measuring system has been designed to provide an image of the development of temperature and humidity between a human and an object, such as a duvet. It detects hidden layers, which cannot be picked up by infrared camera or other optical devices.
“We have passed already various test runs with THG AreaView demonstrating in colour that Outlast materials can reduce moisture significantly during the phase where you fall asleep,” said Volker Schuster, technical director of Outlast Europe.
Visitors to Heimtextil 2012 will see an infrared test applied to Outlast bedding products. Using two different test surfaces, one with Outlast technology and another without, photographs are taken with a thermal image camera (infrared) demonstrating the visual difference between the two fabrics related to body heat.
According to Outlast, the IR pictures prove that its materials can absorb and store body heat.
Heimtextil will take place from January 11-14, 2012, in Frankfurt, Germany.