Man-made Yarn keeps soldiers comfy.

• Author: Faster, Sharon
• Position: Tech Talk

A moisture-repellent, synthetic yarn is helping to keep military personnel warm and thy in harsh climates and terrain, such as Afghanistan, Alaska and Bosnia.

Innova--a polyolefin fiber made by the American Fibers and Yarns Company, in Chapel Hill, N.C.--is being used in the U.S Army's extended cold weather clothing system. The Army has approved it for use in temperatures as low as 60 degrees below zero.

The Innova yarn repels water and perspiration and pushes it to the outside of the garment. It enables moisture to move away from...