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Sophista®
from Kuraray
Sophista is a breakthrough material developed by
Kuraray, the largest manufacturer of EVAL (EVOH) resin in the world. This is the
first synthetic fiber that combines the comfort and feel of natural fiber with
the function of synthetic fiber.
This aqua-friendly fiber with hydrophilic radical is perfectly compatible with
human body.
Sophista is a leading edge product of fiber technologies in the 21st century.
Affinity for
water is the original concept of Sophista's characteristic. Sophista is
aqua-friendly fiber holding hydrophilic radical.
| Fibers can be
categorized into two groups; hydrophilic and hydrophobic fiber.
Hydrophilic fibers have hydrophilic radical (-OH radical), which
molecular structure is characterized by high affinity for water. Cotton
and rayon are typical examples of this fiber group. |
Hydrophilic fiber (cotton and rayon)
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| In contrast with
hydrophilic fiber, most synthetic fiber such as polyester and
polypropylene are typical hydrophobic fibers. Having no hydrophilic
radical in the molecule, these conventional synthetic fibers have no
affinity for water and cannot absorb nor diffuse water. |
Hydrophobic fiber (polyester)
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Sophista is
the first synthetic fiber with hydrophilic radical (-OH) thus enabling to absorb
and diffuse water. It has realized a real comfortable and gentle touch to human
skin which has never been available with synthetic fiber.
Sophista, just
simply comfort to your body
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Sophista
Smooth and
comfortable
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With hydrophilic radical in the
fiber, sweat and water are absorbed on fiber surface where they
quickly evaporate.
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Sophista does not swell nor stick to
the skin as in the case with natural fiber when they are wet.
Sophista maintains both fiber and skin surface dry.
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Cotton Soggy
and sticky
- The fibers quickly absorb sweat and
water but swell with water to become bigger.
- The saturated fiber with water will
become soggy and sticky to the skin. It not only makes wearer
uncomfortable, but it also takes time to be dried.
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Polyester
Soggy
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The lack of hydrophilic radical in
the fiber does not allow absorption of the sweat and water.
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Though fiber does not swell, it hold
sweat on fiber surface changing into uncomfortable and soggy liquid
layer between skin and fiber.
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Sophista is
cool and fresh
Sophista can absorb and diffuse not only sweat
but also the body heat by evaporation of water. With this wicking effect,
Sophista makes you feel cool and dry.
| The index of
cool feeling Qmax
Sophista can absorb and diffuse not only
sweat but also the body heat by evaporation of water. With this wicking
effect, Sophista makes you feel cool and dry.
To simulate how the body heat is transferred
when wearing clothes, the
heat transfer was measured by time letting a heat stock plate be contacted
with the fabric. The heat transfer can reach maximum within 0.1 second
followed by sharp decrease.
The maximum drop value is indicated as Qmax index. |
The higher the index is, we
feel cooler.
The smaller the index is, we feel warmer. |
Sophista show
amazing wicking performance by the quick absorption and evaporation of sweat
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Sophista absorbs sweat on the fiber surface
and evaporates quickly. Sophista has better quick-dry performance than
normal polyester considered as a good quick-dry performance fiber. A test
has been done pouring 10g/m2 volume of water on a garment made of Sophista
and normal polyester as comparison.
The polyester garment took 45 minutes to dry completely whereas Sophista
took only 30 minutes.
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Kuraray method
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Sophista prevents
sharp drop down of a body temperature
| Sophista helps your body to
maintain normal temperature while at work or on exercise. A garment made
of Sophista can keep your body cooler than any other synthetic or natural
fibers including even silk when you doing some light work.
Sophista can maintain your body temperature
at comfortable level by evaporation heat caused by quick absorption and
diffusion of water.
It also prevents a quick drop of body temperature which occurs mostly
after you stopped working or exercising because of wearing soggy garment. |
Kuraray method
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Sophista is
elegant - light as a feather with luster of pearl
Sophista has gained significant lightness in
weight to make wearing more comfortable. Sophista is so light with the specific
gravity of only 1.25 that you will feel as if you are wearing nothing else than
your skin. Multi-purpose application for formal and casual clothing, an ideal
garment for traveling because of its lightness, less bulkiness and wrinkle-free.
It makes wearing comfortable releasing your body heat.
An elegant luster with vivid
color
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Vivid color and a beautiful luster are just
two of Sophista's key features. Dyed fabrics made of Sophista are vibrant
because its saturation exceeds its brightness.
Sophista is made from EVAL, which has a low refractive index, minimizing
reflection and making colors look full and rich. |
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Furthermore, EVAL is highly transparent and
contains no substances that scatter or diffuse light, giving it a
beautiful fluid sheen. |
Smooth and natural drape
Sophista's light and smooth texture allows it
to drape beautifully, providing gentle but firm support to respond with your
move. Sophista makes you relaxed and refreshed.
Gentle and tough. Useful easy
care
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Stain can be
washed off easily from the fiber
In the daily life, clothes can easily be stained with various kind of
substances. Sophista can make the laundry easier because stain can be
washed off easily while maintaining the durability against repeated wash
cycles. Unlike natural fiber like wool or silk, you can wash the garment
made of Sophista at home saving the time and expense to go to professional
laundries. Cost performance is another advantage of the comfort fabric that
looks always neat. |
White remains as pure white while
colors remain vivid.
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You should have experienced that
repeated washing make most fabrics look dull and faded.
Fortunately, this is not the case with Sophista. Sophista has much longer
life of wearing than other fabrics. A fabric made of Sophista can hold its
original whiteness or color while other fabrics look dull or faded by
washing.
Kuraray method (Japan Synthetic Textile
Inspection Institute Foundation based on JIS)
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Sophista,
a leading fiber in the 21st century. How is it produced? What is the structure?
How Sophista could
be produced
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Sheath-core type
(todays version)
This yarn has two parts, a polyester core
and an EVAL sheath. It is strong and easy to care like conventional
synthetic fibers as well as having comfort comparable to the best natural
fibers.
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New type products can be easily
developed.
Prospected variation on Sophista
Easiness of chemical bonding with a wide range of
finishing agent, the characteristic of EVAL, will make it possible to develop
the value added properties to give extra
performances.
Sophista can make our life healthy, safe and
comfortable with additional performance applied on it, like deodorizing,
antibacterial, moisturizing, waterproofing, anti-flammable or any specific
properties required.
Please expect
future "Sophista"
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