5th - Warm materials part two - the power of science

"Infrared effect," "feel warm with wool," "exothermic effect".
When it starts to become cold, words likes these begin to appear in the socks sales floor.
Have you ever wondered how things become warm?
Warmth in wool and animal hair is caused by the powers of nature that wild animals originally have. On the other hand humans continued to research ways of bringing warmth with the power of science, and have been developing synthetics.
This talk is about a raw material that brings warmth with the power of science

The three mechanisms of warm materials

When speaking of warm materials, there are three main types of warm materials including thermal insulating, thermal storing, and hygroscopic heat generating materials. Let's explain the three mechanisms of warm materials.

Thermal insulating materials - intercept heat

It is a raw material that does not allow heat to escape from the human body.
The point is at the structure comprised of lots of air, by using thermal insulating materials. The best example of this mechanism is the light down jacket and sweater.
Since air compared to other substances is best at keeping heat, it fulfills its role as a heat insulating material.
Therefore, when using thermal insulating material for socks, warm air circulates just within the sock, allowing the feet to keep warm even when it is cold outside.

A major example of how this thermal insulating material is made, is making the fiber hollow and trapping air inside, or entangling the fiber and holding the air between.
Seems like air is protecting us with an invisible wall.

thermal storing materials - store heat

The material itself stores heat, and does not let your body cool off.
Ceramic and coal are common examples. These materials become warm by absorbing far infrared rays.
Far infrared rays are "warmth feeling rays" and have the distinct property of bringing warmth from the objects core and not just the surface by entering inside.
Sunlight and kotatsu (heater table) are often raised as typical examples of far infrared rays, and as a matter of fact these far infrared rays are also released, though in small amounts, from the human body.
Thermal storing materials feel warm since the far infrared ray's heat is amplified and is confined within the fiber.
In consequence, when you are wearing far infrared socks, it is more effective if you first expose them to sunlight or put it inside a kotatsu.

hygroscopic heat generating materials - produce heat

This material generates heat by absorbing moisture.
Mammal fur and bird feathers have the capability of absorbing moisture and converting it to heat. Hence, wild animals can be outside even when it rains or snows because they regulate their body temperature with their fur and feathers.
Seems like these animals that do not carry raincoats or umbrellas, have hygroscopic heat generating function on their bodies.

Socks that use materials that apply the primary principle behind hygroscopic heat generation, are particularly effective if worn when skiing or mountain climbing or in extreme cold regions.