Introduction of polar fleece fabric

2025-08-19

Introduction of Polar Fleece Fabric

 

Polar Fleece: The 20th Century's Revolutionary Fabric

 

Named by TIME Magazine as one of the "100 Greatest Inventions of the 20th Century"

 

Historical Breakthrough

Developed in 1981 by Malden Mills Industries (later Polartec), polar fleece revolutionized cold-weather fabrics. Production expanded to Taiwan in the early 1990s, then to China's Fujian province, with Zhejiang's Shaoxing now being the global production hub.

 

Technical Definition

Polar fleece is a knitted pile fabric produced through:

 

Circular knitting (using Circular Knitting Machine)

 

Multi-stage finishing:

 

Dyeing → Napping → Brushing → Shearing → Pebbling

 

Characteristic pebbled surface with:

 

Pilling resistance

 

Unmatched loftiness

 

Quick-drying properties

 

Advanced Material Science

 

Modern iterations incorporate:

 

Aramid fibers for flame resistance

 

Graphene-enhanced thermal regulation

 

Conductive yarns for static control

 

PU/PTFE laminates for waterproofing

 

Classification System

 

By Fiber Type

 

Short-staple (natural cotton feel)

 

Filament (superior pilling resistance)

 

Spandex-blend (4-way stretch)

 

By Finish Type

 

Single-brushed/single-pebbled

 

Double-brushed/double-pebbled

 

Anti-pill sheared fleece

 

Patterned (waffle, jacquard)

 

By Application

 

Outdoor apparel (primary market)

 

Military/tactical gear

 

Industrial PPE

 

Home textiles (throws, pet beds)

 

Manufacturing Process

 

Knitting → 2. Dyeing → 3. Pre-treatment → 4. Raising → 5. Shearing → 6. Pebbling → 7. Heat-setting → 8. Inspection

 

Key Equipment:

 

24-roller napping machines (Yingyou/Haining)

 

Continuous pebbling systems

 

Computerized inspection frames

 

Performance Advantages

√ 1/3 the weight of wool with comparable warmth

√ Moisture-wicking & rapid drying (0.01% water retention)

√ Machine-washable durability (50+ cycles)

 

Certifications

 

OEKO-TEX Standard 100

 

ISO 6330 wash testing

 

EN 11612 (flame-resistant variants)

 

Technical Specifications

 

Weight range: 150-400gsm

 

Pilling resistance: 4-5 (ASTM D3512)

 

Thermal resistance: 0.8-1.5 clo

 

Global Supply Chain

Annual production exceeds 500,000 metric tons, with:

 

68% from Chinese manufacturers

 

22% from Southeast Asia

 

10% specialty production in EU/US

 

For technical specifications or samples:

Email: [[email protected]

Website: [www.frknit.hk] 

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