Microfiber is a man-made fiber that was developed in the 1950s in Japan. It is made of polyester and polyamide (a by-product of nylon). A microfiber strand is smaller than the diameter of a fine silk fiber which, itself, is 1/5 the diameter of a human hair. When polyester and polyamide fibers are bundled together and treated with heat and chemical processes, the result is called a split microfiber which contains microscopic nooks and crannies that readily take in liquid and soil. A cross section of a split microfiber filament has the appearance of a star or asterisk whereas an untreated microfiber filament or cotton has a more or less smooth surface. (See the graphic cross section with this post). The presence of this additional surface area, combined with the polarity of microfiber filaments which helps attract water and soil, makes split microfiber material ideal for handling the task of absorbing perspiration. A split microfiber cloth can absorb 5 to 6 times more liquid than conventional cloth of the same weight.
The Dry-Run fabric is made from split microfiber filaments. Although microfiber weave is more expensive to manufacture than natural fiber materials it will last much longer, by some estimates nearly 100 times longer than conventional fiber materials. The trick is to avoid subjecting it to water softeners (including dryer sheets) and high heat which can – over time – diminish its ability to absorb liquid.
Split microfiber is an amazing material that is perfectly suited to the needs of runners and athletes who need to quickly and effectively remove dripping perspiration from their eyes, face, and neck. The waffle weave of the Dry-Run pad retains the absorbing qualities of split microfiber without the "stickiness" of microfiber which typically catches on microscopic imperfections of your hands or face.
This information was gleaned from a variety of sources on the Internet. Here are the main ones in case you are interested in reading further on the subject. http://www.parish-supply.com/microfiber-history.aspx, http://www.fabricationtoolsandmaterials.com/products/pcMicroFiber.htm, http://www.rubbermaidcommercial.com/rcp/company/news/09-12-2006.jsp, http://www.incrediblydetailed.com/microfiber-manifesto-everything-need-know-microfiber-towels/, http://www.cleanlink.com/hs/article/Understanding-Microfiber-Technology--3970, http://www.cleanlink.com/hs/article/Understanding-Microfiber-Technology--3970#sthash.q1mLkD4t.dpuf, http://www.carwashmag.com/issues/feb-2011/detail-management.cfm
