Oxford, UK ion-mask™, the revolutionary super-hydrophobic treatment from P2i Ltd, has won the functional Sportswear category in the 2008 ISPO BrandNew Awards. Originally developed to protect soldiers from chemical attack, ion-mask™ applies a protective layer, just nanometres thick, over the entire surface of the item being treated by means of an ionised gas or “plasma”.

In the case of footwear, not only are the external surfaces nano-coated but also the inside, and between and around the individual fibres, making the process particularly effective on shoes containing synthetic materials. Extensive evaluation at the three leading footwear test houses has already confirmed the treatment offers unprecedented levels of super-hydrophobicity and breathability.

“These are exciting times for us, not only winning this prestigious award but having just signed our first high street customer for the process”, says P2i Ltd’s Business Development Director, Dr Ian Robins. “ion-mask™ will hit the high street next summer on a lightweight, waterproof footwear range from Hi-Tec, with other high profile brands soon to follow. The process is already highly regarded in industrial applications such as laboratory disposables and filtration media but this is the first time the public will get to see what all the fuss is about!”