The company says that the T-Shirt, called Thermacore Base Layer, has been tested extensively in both climate chambers and wearer trials, and improves the endurance and comfort of its wearer. It adds that the T-shirt improves the performance of wearers during intense activity by up to 26% and that it delays the onset of discomfort significantly compared with traditional polyester (PES) base layers.
The thermoregulating functionality of Thermacore Base Layer is achieved using several technologies. It is made from thermoregulating yarns (37.5 from Cocona Labs of Boulder, Colrado, USA). 37.5 technology comprises active carbon particles that are permanently embedded in fibres and help the body's natural cooling mechanism, sweating, by removing the moisture vapour from the microclimate next to the skin. The addition of the particles increases the fibre's surface area by up to 800%, and their presence accelerates the conversion of sweat to vapour and the rate of removal of the vapour, significantly increasing the rate of drying, Cocona Labs claims. Moreover, the hotter the wearer gets, the greater the driving force removing the moisture from the microclimate.
By working to keep the microclimate at the optimum relative humidity, 37.5 helps to keep the core temperature close to an ideal of 37.5°C, leaving the wearer more comfortable and able to exercise for longer. Cocona says fabrics using 37.5 technology dry up to five-times faster than untreated ones and, because the additives are derived from natural materials, the treatment does not cause skin irritation. Further, the additives never wash-out from the yarn and their performance does not degrade over time.
The T-shirt also features a combination of menthol and microencapsulated wax-based phase-change materials (PCMs, fresh2Skin) from Outlast Technologies GmbH, of Heidenheim, Germany. The wax in Outlast's PCMs absorbs, stores and releases heat as needed, adapting constantly to changes in body heat and ambient temperature. The cold-receptors in the skin respond to the menthol, meanwhile, creating a pleasantly cool feeling.
Finally, the T-shirt features sweat-evacuation zones, which are located strategically to keep certain areas of the wearer's body dry during high-stress operations.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ace Link Armor, Jakub Dabrowka, concludes: “Heat stress is one of the most underappreciated threats in tactical operations. With the Thermacore T-shirt, we are addressing this challenge head-on — providing professionals with the physiological edge they need to perform at their best while staying cool, dry and focused under armour.”