Download - Smarty Pants The Science & Technology of Underwear Dr Audrey Matthews De Montfort University
Smarty Pants The Science & Technology of
UnderwearDr Audrey Matthews
De Montfort University
What are Pants?
Pants
English
Underpants or
knickers
American
Trousers or slacks
What do we mean by Smart?
SmartEnglishClever; keen onbargaining; stylish;unscrupulous; brisk well-groomed; painfullysevere ScienceSomething that appear to think, or have memoryThey return to their originalstate
Birth to Death
From Babies to Children
Teenagers and Sports
Adults
Older People
Why do we Wear Underwear?
• Modesty
• Glamour
• Support
• Comfort
• Performance (special use)
• Hygiene
• Protection
A Brief History of Underwear
Modesty Glamour Support Comfort Sports Hygiene Protection
21st Century
Today
50 years ago
Post war
100 years ago
Victorian
Over 200 years ago
Pre-Victorian
Materials• Building blocks
• Fibres
e.g. cotton, silk
• Filamentse.g. nylon, polyester
• StructuresKnits, weaves & non-woven
Traditional Materials
Regenerated CelluloseTencel
Bamboo
Nettles
Poly Lactic AcidIngeo
Nylon Tactel
Recycled Bottles
Polymers
Monomers are links in a polymer chain
Different polymers have differentgroups attached and chemists use balls to show this
Elastane• Naturally relaxed, soft chains in tangled disorder
Soft Segments Hard Segments• Under tension, chains straighten out
• Relaxed, chains draw back to natural tangle
Sportswear –Demands of the body
Sportswear - Demands of the Activity
Sportswear – Our Needs
• Comfort• Freedom of movement• Breathable• Quick drying• Lightweight• Move moisture away from
skin• Improved fit• Improved performance
Fastskin
• Copies dermal dentricles found in shark’s skin
• Water forms vortices around dentricles
• Water slips more closely to body
• Minimises drag and increases efficiency
Fastskin Structure
• Seams isolate muscle groups
• The inner arms of the FastSkin (full body) incorporate a gripper fabric that mimics skin, increasing friction and giving the swimmer a greater grip and feel in the water.
PowerSkin
• FRICTION zero friction
• WEIGHT 30% lighter than a regular swimwear material
• MOISTURE ABSORPTION 15% less moisture absorption
• THE FABRIC A revolutionary woven material with polyamide coating
Wet and Dry Suits
Neoprene
• Closed cell neoprene• Cells filled with nitrogen• Minimal water absorption• Good thermal insulation• SCS super composite skin
has low friction coating• Titanium coating aids heat
retention
O’Neill Animal
• Ease of movement around joints• Special moulding technique• No loss of thermal insulation
Heated Textiles
Heated Vest - WarmX
Cooling textiles
Adidas Ap-precision Tennis
• Compresses serving arm• Reduces muscle vibration and
energy losses• Factor of three increase in
accuracy of forehand shots• 10% increase in serve
accuracy• Ball speed increased
Optical Fibres
Nature’s Model !
AcknowledgementsThanks to staff from De MontfortUniversity:
Dr Dave Morris
Dr Barry Cope
Also to:
Speedo
Charnos
Prion Books
British Association
Royal Institution