A HISTORY OF GORE-TEX
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What Is GORE-TEX?
GORE-TEX is a waterproof, windproof, and breathable material widely used in outdoor clothing, footwear, gloves, and other products. Its unique membrane is designed to protect people from rain and snow while allowing moisture from perspiration to escape.
How Does GORE-TEX Work?
The key to GORE-TEX technology is its microscopic membrane. The membrane contains extremely small pores that are designed to prevent liquid water from passing through while allowing water vapor to escape. This helps keep the wearer dry from both outside precipitation and perspiration.
The technology is based on expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, or ePTFE. The material's microscopic structure gives GORE-TEX its combination of waterproofing, wind protection, and breathability.
The History of GORE-TEX in Delaware
The history of GORE-TEX began in Newark, Delaware. In 1958, Wilbert “Bill” Gore and his wife, Genevieve “Vieve” Gore, founded W. L. Gore & Associates. The company initially focused on using PTFE for electrical wires and cables.
In 1969, their son, Robert Gore, discovered a way to rapidly stretch PTFE, creating expanded PTFE. This unexpected discovery eventually became the foundation of GORE-TEX technology.
GORE-TEX Becomes a Global Technology
After its development, GORE-TEX technology expanded beyond its Delaware beginnings and became widely used in outdoor clothing and equipment. Today, GORE-TEX products are associated with protection from challenging weather conditions and are used by hikers, skiers, runners, workers, and travelers around the world.
Why Delaware Is Important to GORE-TEX History
Delaware holds an important place in the history of GORE-TEX because Newark was where W. L. Gore & Associates began and where the technology's early development took place. The company's Delaware roots are an important part of the story behind one of the world's best-known waterproof fabric technologies.
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