Talk:Gore-Tex

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Anon User:80.202.194.186 initiated a page move via Cut-n-paste to 'Gore-tex', which was a good call, if not quite handled right. In fact the registered trade name appears to be fully capitalised as 'GORE-TEX ®' - the full-caps is a bit beyond the pale, but including the hyphen a capitalising each half looks like a common compromise. - Solipsist 23:29, 29 Dec 2004 (UTC)


Contents

[edit] first use paragraph

In a recent rewrite, User:195.75.97.226 removed the paragraph;

The first commercial Gore-Tex product was a tent called the Light Dimension that was created and sold by the Seattle firm, Early Winters, Ltd., in 1976.

presumably because this wasn't actually the first use of Gore-Tex. It might be better to correctly qualify this statement ('first consumer product' or what have you), or replace it with a description of whatever was the first product. -- Solipsist 7 July 2005 08:57 (UTC)

This paragraph should not have been removed.
The first commercial/consumber use of Gore-Tex laminated fabrics WAS a 3-pound tend called the Light Dimension. This product was created by the Seattle firm of Early Winters, Ltd. -- FloweringHearth 02:06, 14 July 2005

I tend to agree, but I don't know the history. The passage was removed by an anon who may have been associated with the company. They also expanded the list of applications well beyond waterproof fabrics. It is possible that technically the first commercial use of Gore-Tex was in one of these other fields, or it might have been this tent, I wouldn't know. However it seems like the tent should still be mentioned, as that is likely to be the first use that most people would be aware of. So lets reinsert it with the qualification 'first commercial consumer product'. -- Solipsist 06:06, 14 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] I think that this could interest the reader a LOT...

  • What is their relation to DuPont? *

Going back to 1944, we remember that the PTFE (Teflon(R)) is a PATENT, which - to my knowledge - is still active. So not all and sundry can make use of PTFE. (I reckon that when your wives buy Teflon (R) pans, they do PAY for the patent {it's included in the price of the product}). So DuPont should be doing a sort of joint-venture with them, not? Given the fact that Gore got a couple of prizes donated by DuPont. Not Gore has invented the technologies, DuPont (better: one of their employees) had (back in 1938). Does anyone have a little more insight and can add this to the article? Thanks.

    • This sounds unlikely, most patents have a term of twenty years, so the dates don't add up. Normally the only way to effectively patent for longer, is to take out additional patents on improvements or ancillary processes. Even then the original patent would have expired so it is only an effective technique if it is no longer commercial viable to use the original method. However, if you have verifiable sources, it could be added to the article. -- Solipsist 21:24, 27 August 2005 (UTC)
    • Also, I believe Gore-Tex is ePTFE, or expanded PTFE, which may qualify for a unique patent separate from Teflon.

[edit] Patents and History of GORE-TEX

Also, I believe Gore-Tex is ePTFE, or expanded PTFE, which may qualify for a unique patent separate from Teflon.

The Gore-Tex product was filed as a spearate patent in the 1970s.

Gore-Tex is more of a processed PTFE than a new product. I would doubt that Gore Jr. would have gone to all the trouble of manufacturing his own stash of Teflon for the purpose of his research into the production of a fabric from Teflon -- he would have bought the base material. Gore-Tex is more of a process of a patented material than a copy of a product. Any licensing of the raw material would have been paid when the raw goods were purchased.

I remember reading or hearing (somewhere) back in the 1990's that the discovery was a bit of a fluke. The fable goes something like this. Bob Gore was trying to draw (pull) Teflon samples into a more manageable fibre. Several ranges of heat and slow speeds were tested, and none of the combinations gave positive results. Every time he tried to pull it, the sample would give a small elastic yield, and then break. In a late-night moment of frustration, he pulled a handful of samples from the heater and ripped them apart, only to find that the sample did not break, but was actually drawn to a smaller diameter.

I can't find a citation for this but I'm curious as to whether this is just a geeky urban legend or some semblance of truth.

This is appartently the truth. At least it was related like this in a court hearing in the US a number of years ago.I like skateboarding.

[edit] Similar products

I'd like to see a listing of similar products that behave the same way as Gore-Tex. Gary 22:42, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Name of Inventor

Somebody has corrected the name of the co-inventor from Wilbert L. to William. I think he was a Wilbert - but this should be checked 38presdales 10:04, 18 February 2007 (UTC). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 38presdales (talk • contribs) 10:03, 18 February 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Cray 1

In a talk at the COmputer History Museum about the Cray 1 (available at http://www.computerhistory.org/events/index.php?id=1157047505 ) it was asserted that Bob Gore invented Gore-Tex to improve the wire insulation for the Cray 1.

87.74.19.152 10:01, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Trivia section tag added

I've tagged it because there's absolutely no reason for an article about textiles to have three separate references to one television show (Sienfeld). Please clean up or just delete. Todd Vierling 00:59, 18 July 2007 (UTC)

I agree and have taken the bold step of deleting the entire section. I don't believe this section is particularly noteworthy or interesting to the majority of people and does not add to an article about a technical fabric. Gore-Tex clothing is used by many people and as such of course it is featured on TV shows, in movies and in computer games. The list of such uses could grow indefinitely. You wouldn't include a list of every time someone wore Nike trainers on the Nike page would you? (the rap artist may be an exception, but that is included by the "did you mean?" link at the top) Djcunning 11:21, 20 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Breathable?

Wouldn't that make them poor insulators, allowing your body heat to escape?.. wouldn't that make Gore-tex only good for raincoats but poor for winter coats? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.122.63.142 (talk) 20:07, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

-- "Breathable" means "water vapour transits" not "wind passes through". A breathable fabric is a better insulator, as trapped sweat reduces the insulating value on the air inside insulation layers and costs the body evaporation energy. Umptious (talk) 14:17, 28 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] yumyumyum

Boots taste yummy? Is this relevant? (i'd say they're slightly chewy myslf) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.229.84.132 (talk) 10:24, 29 January 2008 (UTC)


[edit] General revision

Old version of the page was (as tagged) virtually an ad for Goretex. I've added realistic comparisons with alternatives, product development history, instructions on cleaning, company revenue, and safety info on breathability and hypothermia.Umptious (talk) 18:51, 28 February 2008 (UTC)