Gore-tex is a waterproof breathable fabric created by the W. L. Gore & Associates headquartered in Newark, Delaware. Their legendary GORE-TEX® fabric started a revolution in the field of protective outerwear.
GORE-TEX® fabric
The most durably waterproof, very breathable, totally windproof fabric meeting Gore's Guaranteed to Keep You Dry® standards. Created when the GORE-TEX® membrane is bonded to high-performance textiles to create laminated fabrics. Different GORE-TEX® laminates satisfy the requirements of different types of garments.
GORE-TEX® membrane
GORE-TEX® products are based on GORE-TEX® ePTFE membrane technology.
The membrane provides a thin, uniform barrier that can provide properties like waterproofness or chemical resistance. A single square inch of the GORE-TEX® membrane contains 9 billion microscopic pores — each 20,000 times smaller than a raindrop but 700 times larger than a molecule of water vapor — so while water can't pass through the fabric, perspiration can.
Integrated into the ePTFE structure is an oleophobic, or oil-hating, substance that allows moisture vapor to pass through but is a physical barrier that prevents the penetration of contaminating substances such as oils, cosmetics, insect repellents, and food substances.