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: [Brittany@frknit.hk] 

Website: [www.frknit.hk]