TECHNICAL TERMINOLOGY
(Because any knowledge is good knowledge)

DURABILITY

Deformation (i.e. breakdown or lack thereof): Change in an object’s shape or its material. Deformation is why Matuse continually tests its materials to ensure premium (the ichiban) quality in every item so that each suit can last longer. Greater product lifespan translates into greater consumer value, less raw material usage and far less material waste. Mother Nature likes it like that.

Textile Durability (i.e. ichiban staying power): A textile’s ability to retain physical integrity under conditions of stress over a period of time.

Strength (i.e. get your weight up): A textile’s ability to withstand rupture when pulling, tearing and bursting tests are applied to it. Breaking, tearing and bursting are three types of textile strength measures.

Breaking (tensile) strength (e.g. when something goes “snap” on you): Defined as a textile’s ability to withstand longitudinal pulling forces. In order to determine breaking strength, two locations on a fiber, yarn, or fabric are held while longitudinal pulling forces are administered. We employ such tests to figure out what your Matuse suit can withstand. The answer? Quite a lot.

Tearing Strength (i.e. how strong you is): A textile’s ability to resist additional rupture while lateral (sideways) pulling forces are administered to a cut or hole in the fabric.

Bursting Strength (e.g. when something pops): A textile’s ability to maintain physical integrity while subjected to distending or swelling forces that are applied perpendicular to the fabric’s surface.

Elongation (i.e. going with the stress, young grasshopper): A textile’s ability to extend while subjected to stress— particularly pulling and tearing forces.
Elongation’s Equation:

Extended Length - Unrecovered Length
------------------------------------ = % Elastic Elongation
      Extended Length x 100

Elasticity/Elastic Recovery (e.g. check out the sweet equation): A textile’s ability to return to its original dimensions after being stressed or elongated.
Elongation’s Equation:

Extended Length - Unrecovered Length
------------------------------------ = % Elastic Elongation
      Extended Length x 100

Abrasion Resistance (i.e. rubbing can be a chafe): A textile’s ability to withstand surface rubbing (i.e. frictional force). Abrasion resistance means all the wiggling on your board while waiting for waves won’t make your suit look sketchy.

Flexibility (i.e. where’s your yoga mat?): A textile’s ability to retain physical integrity while subjected to repeated bending forces.

Oil Resistance (i.e. a material’s propensity to get downright filthy): The adsorption, absorption and entrapment of particulate and oily soils. When something is oil resistant, it doesn’t take on as much of the harmful chemicals often found in the ocean. On that note, let’s try and keep our oceans cleaner in the first place.