Qi-Tex®
Qi-Tex® incorporates the power of far-infrared into your textiles. Qi-Tex® technology absorbs and reflects the energy emitted by the human body, so that the wearer of the clothing experiences a variety of positive health effects. You can see this as recycling your own energy.
Improved sleep
The far-infrared radiation properties of Qi-Tex® improve sleep performance and increase physical recovery during sleep.
Because the body recovers from physical and mental exertion during sleep, a good night’s rest is essential for good health. However, estimates reveal that 20 to 30% of all Europeans suffer from a shortage of sleep. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even go so far as to specify insufficient sleep as a public health problem. In addition, studies reveal that poor sleep has a negative effect on our health, such as an increased risk of cardiac disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
Improved sleep, faster recovery
Qi-Tex® absorbs the heat that the body radiates, and then reflects this heat back to the body in the form of far-infrared radiation. This radiation can penetrate up to four centimetres beneath the skin, reaching muscles, blood vessels and nerves. The body experiences this energy as a gentle, radiant warmth that results in faster physical recovery and improved sleep. When used in bedding, pyjamas or a mattress, Qi-Tex® ensures a better night’s rest and improves the efficiency of the body’s recovery.
But how does it work?
Scientific studies confirm that far-infrared radiation dilates blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and therefore facilitates better sleep. These studies also report that far-infrared radiation can contribute to reducing insomnia and fatigue, and increasing deep sleep. In addition, far-infrared radiation can promote body recovery while sleeping.
Improved energy and recovery
Blood vessel dilation improves the flow of blood to muscles, joints and the skin, bringing more concentrated oxygen to these areas. This leads to an increased heart rate and accelerated exchange of nutrients and waste products in the body. As a result, the body creates more energy that it can use for healing, cramp relief and recovery, and reduction of fatigue and stiffness.
Studies provide evidence
Studies have demonstrated a link between far-infrared radiation and recovery. In addition, it takes 24 hours for far-infrared radiation to fully heal the body from the ‘damage’ caused by exercise. Energy produced at the cellular level accelerates muscle tissue repair, and reduces the incidence of cramps, oedema and muscle fatigue. Various studies also cite the positive effects of far-infrared radiation on the recovery of muscle strength, accelerated recovery from muscle soreness, and on muscle relaxation.
Preservation of body heat
People who exercise, work and spend their leisure time outdoors benefit from insulating clothing that keeps the body warm. And that’s exactly what our smart Qi-Tex® technology is intended for.
The technology at the heart of Qi-Tex® is the fabric finish enhanced by far-infrared radiation. This radiation captures body heat and reflects it back to the body.
‘Thermographic studies show that Qi-Tex® garments retain more body heat than untreated fabric’
Research confirms that Qi-Tex® works
During the development phase, we had the Taiwan Textile Research Institute test the power of Qi-Tex®. Our main question concerned the effect of far-infrared radiation on the retention of body heat. Thermographic studies show that Qi-Tex® garments retain more body heat than untreated fabric.
Gentle, radiant warmth
Far-infrared rays penetrate to a depth of up to four centimetres beneath the skin – sufficient to reach muscle, blood vessels and nerves. The effect on the body is a sensation of gentle, radiant warmth. Far-infrared radiation is also capable of dilating blood vessels, resulting in increased blood flow that warms the skin.
Improved athletic performance
Many athletes wear clothing enhanced with Qi-Tex® technology to improve their athletic performance. The reason for this improvement is that the far-infrared radiation stimulates increased blood circulation and oxygen balance.
Far-infrared radiation causes blood vessels to dilate, improving blood flow to muscles, joints and skin. This enables the body to deliver more concentrated oxygen to these areas. The heart rate also increases, leading to improved nutrient exchange and removal of waste products from the body. This in turn enables the body to produce more energy.
New energy faster
Muscle tissue metabolism requires sufficient oxygen levels. During intense exercise, muscles consume about 60% of the total oxygen in the body. Higher oxygen levels enable the body to renew energy faster during exercise, thus improving athletic performance.
Faster recovery
Not only does Qi-Tex® contribute to an improved athletic performance, it also helps the body to recover more rapidly following exercise. The far-infrared radiation reflects the body’s energy emissions back into the body, where muscle tissue reabsorbs. The result is a sense of gentle, radiant warmth that can penetrate up to four centimetres beneath the skin, reaching muscles, blood vessels and joints. In other words, Qi-Tex® enables the user to recycle their precious energy!
Improved balance
The action of the far-infrared radiation incorporated in our Qi-Tex® technology helps to improve the wearer’s balance and stability.
People are living longer and longer, with the population segment aged 65 years and above expected to double in the coming decades. But how can we combine ageing with staying fit? How can we ensure that elderly people can continue to perform their daily activities, while avoiding injuries caused by falls or slipping? Clothing enhanced with Qi-Tex® technology can make a contribution.
Balance and stability
Because far-infrared radiation returns heat to the body, penetrating up to four centimetres beneath the skin, the body experiences a sense of gentle, radiant warmth. This warmth can help dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure, enabling the wearer to relax. This relaxation in turn leads to less physical stress and improved body balance.
Tested, and here are the results
We tested the stability benefits of our Qi-Tex® garments on a group of 120 participants aged between 15 and 75 years. These participants, some of whom wore a Qi-Tex® shirt and others a normal shirt, carried out a variety of balance exercises. The results showed that 80% of the participants demonstrated improved balance when wearing a Qi-Tex® shirt. In fact, 30% of the participants were conscious of experiencing improved balance when wearing a Qi-Tex® shirt.
Qi-Tex®: up to 100 washes
Qi-Tex® is an extremely durable technology. Tests carried out at the Taiwan Textile Research Institute show that Qi-Tex® finishes last for 50 to 100 washes.
How our Qi-Tex® technology works
The human body constantly emits energy in the form of mid-infrared and far-infrared radiation. Research demonstrates that our body loses around 100 watts of energy each day, equivalent to 55-70% energy consumption.
You can understand this by comparing it with tennis. When the ball hits the racquet, it transfers its kinetic energy. The racquet then returns the energy to the ball, which rebounds as a result. Our Qi-Tex® technology works in the same way. Qi-Tex® is based on a bio ceramic and consists of a mixture of six minerals embedded in a binder matrix. This blend ensures that human energy is not lost, but is returned to the body as FIR radiation which can penetrate to a depth of up to four centimetres.
Need more answers?
This market report provides insights into the market and segmental growth potential of smart textiles, as well as inspiration for possible applications for FIR-enabled textiles. It examines customer demand and needs, and includes an industry expert’s prediction on the likely uptake of FIR-enabled textiles.
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