Microfiber: Strength in Unity
During the 1990s, the general thought was "Live better through chemistry," or something like that. Artificial sweeteners, the brand "I can’t Believe it’s not butter," the pacemaker... It seems we were on the right track. Along the way, some of the big chemical companies experimented with creating a synthetic material better than leather. The patented information of the first prototype stated: "eliminate defects such as those found in natural leather, to capitalize on its advantages without affecting its properties, and thus improve its combined qualities." When it comes to talking about materials and their use, we then come to use the word "better." Some of the biggest consumers of microfiber or synthetic leather materials are companies that manufacture shoes, furniture, car interiors, and gloves. Each of these products requires a special microfiber.
How many times have you heard "We created it especially for you," only to realize that there were other similar models shortly after? It's disappointing. So, to provide microfibers, Mechanix Wear® studied the subject. 20 years of hard work. And like everything humans do, the possibilities only get better. The first product considered to be of very high quality was the pair of Clarino Nash gloves. It received exceptional results and feedback. This "data" was compiled and used to constantly improve research to obtain an even better product. Taking this data into account, several other microfiber alternatives have been developed for use in Mechanix Wear gloves.
Ultrasuede, Alcantara, Durasoft, Presstoff, Chicron, Material4X®, Tongda, Parity, Durafit, AX Suede, and Maxkin are among the solutions considered for working the palm side of the glove. Each of these brands has its own manufacturing process and unique blend of ingredients. They have their own finishes and product wear tests. The range of materials varies from 80% non-woven polyester and 20% non-fibrous polyurethane (PU) to 65% polyester and 35% polyurethane depending on the range concerned. Several fabrics resemble natural suede but are stain and fade-resistant and can be machine washed. Several versions of microfiber are woven, but they resist twisting and do not unravel due to their blend with non-woven polyurethane foam.
The selected microfiber categories meet the required specifications for flammability testing, others for antibacterial and even vegan criteria in their manufacturing. As with everything, there are many factors to consider regarding the finish of a product for the palm side of a glove. Generally, cost, availability, color range, and physical properties of the material are to be considered, as well as the results of basic tests. In the past, these tests consisted of sewing a pair of gloves and having as many people as possible wear them until they wore out naturally. It was perfect when you just needed a personal impression, but it contributed little to product evolution and improvement. Standardizing processes and the results from accredited digital tests are a major asset when comparing one material to another. Many agencies, organizations, and testing centers like ANSI, CE, FIA, SFI, and OSHA can subject the material to abrasion, puncture, cut, heat and flame resistance, UV resistance, waterproofing, stretching, or shrinking, and almost anything you can think of in terms of material testing, except for being gluten-free it seems.
Laboratory tests provide a certified result that will classify a product into a category, and often, this is a mandatory step before the product is marketed. This type of test is performed on a machine called a "Taber abrasion." It is used to test a product's resistance to a "snag" or hole and can perform up to 47 certified tests. The computer-controlled TABER machine is slightly more sophisticated than a grinding wheel and a brick as a weight. There are several reasons why Mechanix Wear conducts and publishes these certified material tests, including using the results as a Competitive Tool. Through these tests, it is possible to identify several methods to further improve the property of a particular material. Cost-benefit ratio. Ensuring that product expectations are met is part of the quality control process carried out through regular testing. This aspect of testing speaks for itself. Mechanix Wear has always sought to manufacture better, stronger, and safer products.
Just like teams, we encourage diversity in testing and material combinations, we test the finished products. Often, a product will perform well in the Taber test but will not last long in practice. Then, there is the need to do business. Many companies require products to meet a minimum of standard norms. These specifications are essential tools to be able to perform standardized and consistent tests. These are written guidelines that must be followed for a certain product, process, test, or procedure. When followed, these standards allow results to be exploited, repeated, and reproduced infinitely. Thus, we can make relevant comparisons based on the data collected.
If Mechanix Wear can afford to have its products tested in real conditions, what matters are the certified numbers received by the production materials, while separating them from the sometimes subjective figures given by non-standardized tests from other glove manufacturers. Be sure to look for a CE or ANSI logo when making your own comparisons.
With over 100 different designs and types of gloves available at Mechanix Wear, the variations and combinations of materials used are very diverse. Several specific use categories have included the use of natural leathers, while most work gloves have a unique version and type of microfiber. Thinner, easier to wear, stronger, more slippery, or thicker to withstand significant temperature fluctuations. These are some of the qualities found in the arsenal of materials involved in today's microfibers, and found in all Mechanix Wear gloves.