What is the difference between down and feather.

Down or feathers are often used in the manufacture of outerwear. Which of these heaters should you choose when planning to replenish your wardrobe? Information about how fluff differs from a feather will help you make a choice.

Definition

Down is a kind of feather that covers the body of birds and acts as thermal insulation.

Down

Feather is a formation on the skin of birds with a shaft and branches extending from it.

Feather

Comparison

Let's compare the structure of down and other types of feathers. So, down has a core, which, however, is too small and practically intangible. Almost weightless beard threads are attached to the stem, which together make up a soft and delicate fan. The difference between fluff and feather is that fluff does not have large rigid elements. Firmly adhered to each other, they fold into a light, airy structure that is also very resilient. After compression, the original volume of the down insulation is quickly restored.

Now let's pay attention to the structure of the so-called contour pen. It is based on a long hard rod, ending at the bottom with a thick and hard point - this is exactly the part of the pen that was previously dipped in ink when writing. The holes are hollow and free of barbs (feather elements extending to the sides). And above it, the barbs attached to the rod interlock with each other with the help of microscopic hooks and form a flat fan.

There are also intermediate formations that make up a cross between down and a flat contour feather - down feathers. Their shaft is quite long, but the beards, like down, flutter freely. Down feathers are widely used in the production of winter clothing.

Consider the difference between down and feather in relation to cost. It is quite natural that of the listed types of feathers, the most expensive is down. Possessing excellent heat-saving properties, it is at the same time a scarce raw material. Down in the entire plumage of a bird is less than a fifth. But the lowest-grade raw material - small feathers - is more than half of all bird "clothes".

Insulation of a quality down jacket may consist of a part of the down and a part of a down feather. In what proportion these materials are contained is indicated by a fractional value on the product label. Lower quality winter clothing is usually insulated with small feathers. Information on its content is also given on the label. The warmest, most durable and expensive products are products with the greatest amount of down.

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