Ion-Mask is a plasma process that makes a shoe waterproof, water repellent, stain repellent and lightweight while retaining full comfort and breathability.
The shoes are put into the Ion-Mask machine which creates a pressurised vacuum.
The machine then begins treatment by generating a plasma (electrical field) to activate the surface of the shoe.
The chamber is then filled with fluoro carbon (monomer) which penetrates every fibre of the shoe.
Every surface of the finished shoe is then enhanced with a layer 10nano-metres thick. 1000 times thinner than the human hair.
The plasma process infuses every single fibre with water repellent polymers on a sub-microscopic scale, providing a waterproof layer. Even the open weave materials become repellent and much less absorbent, making the shoe hydrophobic so that water runs straight off the material. As a result, footwear having undergone the Ion-Mask treatment will gain less weight when used in wet conditions and will retain less water.
The Ion-Mask is not just water repellent but stain repellent too, which also prevents dirt from clinging to keep shoes looking clean.
When a shoe undergoes the Ion-Mask treatment, every fibre, not just the outer layer is treated, including the seams and laces. However, the shoe remains just as breathable as the untreated material by creating a natural airflow while walking.