We have developed aerogel materials in different thickness and world’s first single-layer aerogel composite to meet all kinds of consumer needs.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (PRWEB) January 07, 2019
Supield Inc., creator of the thin and warm jacket line, S.Kistler, has reached $100,000 on Kickstarter. The Supield team has announced to add a new aerogel insulated jacket and aerogel insulated gloves for backers to its existing offering — both made by the material inspired by the NASA spacesuits.
“Aerogel is traditionally used in manufacturing and aerospace and there are only a few companies in the world focusing on applying it on daily clothing,” said Jie Yan, Founder and CEO of Supield Inc. “Upholding the vision to be the most innovative start-up company in the high-tech fabric industry, we are democratizing the use of aerogel to making it available in people’s wardrobes. We have developed aerogel materials in different thickness and world’s first single-layer aerogel composite to meet all kinds of consumer needs.”
Supield’s aerogel story started in 2012 when Dr. Lu Haiming was studying his Ph.D at Imperial College in London. Dr. Lu was impressed by the aerogel material, which is the lightest solid on earth, and its low thermal conductivity feature. Having learned that NASA made aerogel spacesuits to cope with the harsh conditions in the space, Dr. Lu and the Supield team started the ideation process to bring this “material of space era” to daily use — perfect insulation to make the heavy, puffy and boxy winter jacket warm, thin and light.
The R&D process lasted for three full years and was filled with barriers. To start, the texture of aerogel material was quite tough, therefore, traditionally aerogel powder was used. However aerogel powder would fall off from the fabric through time and the thermal insulation function will deteriorate. To address this challenge, the team introduced a polymer material as a substrate to wrap the aerogel powder to soften the texture and prevent the powder from falling off. In addition, the team took an innovative approach to make the material more breathable. The team made very fine holes on the material — when the body sweats, the air pressure in the clothing will be greater than the external air pressure, and the moisture will be discharged.
To cater for various use cases, the Supield team has developed jackets with aerogels in four levels of thickness. The Kistler Series 3 uses 0.5 mm aerogel insulation and weighs less than one pound, which is best for casual wear and outdoor activities in cold weather. The warmest, thickest version of the jacket, the Kistler Series 7, has a 3mm aerogel insulation layer, however with reasonable weight of 1.5kg — 50 percent lighter than the leading aerogel jacket on the market. Series 7 can keep users warm in the ultra cold condition up to -320°. In between, the Kistler Series 5 with 2mm aerogel insulation is the best option for people who are looking for a warm, hooded jacket for ski, a winter hike and any outdoor activities in cold weather. In addition, the team introduced Series R, the first single-layer aerogel composite jacket in the world, which gives apparel companies a new alternative to design sleek, fashionable outerwear.
As the project is fully funded, Kickstarter backers still have the opportunity to purchase the Kistler Aerogel Jacket series at discounted prices through January 22, 2019. For more information about the campaign, or to place an order, visit pr.go2.fund/kistler.
About Supield Inc.
Aerogel technology was initially used in industry insulators, but was not ideal for daily clothing due to various challenges such as stiffness and powder leakage. In early 2018, the Supield team created a light, thin and soft aerogel fabric that does not compromise warmth. By introducing the first aerogel fabrics that are available in different thickness, and by pioneering the aerogel single-layer composite, the team brings a new level of warmth to people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Shanghai, China with an additional office in California, United States.