Ancient man had to rely on animal skins for keeping warm at night. Then, people learned how to weave fabrics from wool. Later, we discovered how to stuff feathers or down from geese and ducks in between two layers of fabric to provide a thick layer of insulation. Then there were those awful years when polyester was all the rage. Today, we are likely to be using a faux fur throw blanket on our beds.
Faux fur is a man-made fabric. Natural furs are controversial and expensive. Previously available synthetic materials did not breathe, felt itchy and plastic and were not at all comfortable. Today's fabrics are much fluffier and snuggly. They are also easily affordable, so that every member of the family can have their own. It is even possible to have spares to put on living room furniture or use for camping and picnics.
Synthetic blankets are available in a range of bright colors, muted tones or even animal prints. They come in all sizes from baby blankets to those that are suitable for the easy chair or sofa, to giant, mega-comfy articles to have on the bed. They are better than a comforter, which may be filled with duck down or goose feathers, in that they are easy to clean. Just toss them in the washing machine and either hang them on the clothesline outdoors when the weather is fine, or in the clothes dryer when it is cold or wet outside.
So what lies on the horizon for the next generation of blankets and throws? Zero-loft aerogels are one possible material from which tomorrow's bed coverings might be made. Loft is a measure of a fabric's thickness, a down comforter, for example, that is filled with a compressible material for insulation. Zero-loft aerogels offer two or more times the thermal performance of a conventional comforter or duvet without the extra thickness.
Zero-loft aerogel has the advantage over feathers or down in that it is not as bulky. Also, aerogel is better when wet. Feathers and down compress when they are wet, losing the insulating layer of air. Aerogels do not have this problem.
Another up and coming material is hydrophobic down. This material is coated in a water repellant chemical. Hydrophobic down holds as much as 80 percent of its loft even after being soaked in water for as long as three minutes.
Gore-Tex is gradually being replaced as an outdoor fabric. The main complaint among skiers and other users is that Gore-Tex does not breathe, which makes them feel sweaty inside. New air-permeable fabrics are being developed that promote the flow of air, which carries moisture away from the body. This material might have other uses as a blanket material.
Materials technology is advancing all the time. Today's comfortable bed covering could turn out to be tomorrow's polishing cloth. Who knows what we will be throwing onto our beds and snuggling underneath in tomorrow's world. Maybe they will be pleasantly scented to encourage sleep, adjust the temperature to keep the occupant not too hot or not too cold in the changing conditions, maybe they will play a pleasant melody to drift off to sleep to.
Faux fur is a man-made fabric. Natural furs are controversial and expensive. Previously available synthetic materials did not breathe, felt itchy and plastic and were not at all comfortable. Today's fabrics are much fluffier and snuggly. They are also easily affordable, so that every member of the family can have their own. It is even possible to have spares to put on living room furniture or use for camping and picnics.
Synthetic blankets are available in a range of bright colors, muted tones or even animal prints. They come in all sizes from baby blankets to those that are suitable for the easy chair or sofa, to giant, mega-comfy articles to have on the bed. They are better than a comforter, which may be filled with duck down or goose feathers, in that they are easy to clean. Just toss them in the washing machine and either hang them on the clothesline outdoors when the weather is fine, or in the clothes dryer when it is cold or wet outside.
So what lies on the horizon for the next generation of blankets and throws? Zero-loft aerogels are one possible material from which tomorrow's bed coverings might be made. Loft is a measure of a fabric's thickness, a down comforter, for example, that is filled with a compressible material for insulation. Zero-loft aerogels offer two or more times the thermal performance of a conventional comforter or duvet without the extra thickness.
Zero-loft aerogel has the advantage over feathers or down in that it is not as bulky. Also, aerogel is better when wet. Feathers and down compress when they are wet, losing the insulating layer of air. Aerogels do not have this problem.
Another up and coming material is hydrophobic down. This material is coated in a water repellant chemical. Hydrophobic down holds as much as 80 percent of its loft even after being soaked in water for as long as three minutes.
Gore-Tex is gradually being replaced as an outdoor fabric. The main complaint among skiers and other users is that Gore-Tex does not breathe, which makes them feel sweaty inside. New air-permeable fabrics are being developed that promote the flow of air, which carries moisture away from the body. This material might have other uses as a blanket material.
Materials technology is advancing all the time. Today's comfortable bed covering could turn out to be tomorrow's polishing cloth. Who knows what we will be throwing onto our beds and snuggling underneath in tomorrow's world. Maybe they will be pleasantly scented to encourage sleep, adjust the temperature to keep the occupant not too hot or not too cold in the changing conditions, maybe they will play a pleasant melody to drift off to sleep to.
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Buy luxury and low priced faux fur throw blanket directly from the online store. We highly recommend this reputable supplier's website at http://www.furaccents.com
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