This is especially evident in the example of irons.
The desire for new technologies sometimes overlooks the main thing - the main function of the device. The most important part of the iron is the sole - it comes in contact with the fabric and smoothes creases on it. The sole should slide along the fabric. Neither the touch control, nor the power of vaporization, nor the hinged connection of the cord will not matter if the iron will damage the fabric at the same time.
And when choosing an iron, it is necessary to pay attention to the quality and technical characteristics of the sole, and then to select everything else. Those who think that in this aspect all irons are the same are greatly mistaken. The history of the development of the design of irons has, apparently, more than two dozen different coatings of the sole.
There are not many requirements for the material of the sole: minimal friction with materials (for easy sliding of the iron), maximum strength, ability to evenly distribute heat throughout the area and create conditions for safe impact on the fabric. Based on these requirements and try to figure out how to choose an iron on the material of the sole.
The cast-iron "ancestors" of the present irons used to heat ordinary coals, and the use of them required considerable effort. But it was impossible to achieve the required smoothness due to the granular structure of the cast iron.
The appearance of aluminum provided a tangible impetus to the development of technology for making irons. Aluminum seemed to the developers the ideal material due to its good grinding ability, almost instantaneous heating, and most importantly - extreme ease.
Now many inexpensive irons also have an aluminum sole. They have certain drawbacks, the main one of which is the softness of aluminum. Scratches on such a sole appear quickly enough. And even the standard aluminum outsole, not equipped with an additional coating, leaves a gloss on many, especially woolen, fabrics when ironing.
Trying to overcome these shortcomings, Philips switched to the use of anodized aluminum, which underwent special heat treatment. However, most manufacturers today focus on the special processing of aluminum used for the sole of their irons. Such materials are designated Anodilium or Careeza.
Perhaps today the most stable material for covering the sole of the iron should be considered the achievement of Braun - a patented sole with the name Saphir, made of high quality stainless steel and covered with a special spraying of sapphire powder. Sapphire is considered not only one of the most expensive stones, but also a "champion" in hardness among natural minerals. Rival or corundum can compete with him. The new technology has led to the creation of a truly new generation of irons with the easily sliding, super-solid Saphir sole.
Currently, most Braun irons are equipped with such a sole, and this applies to inexpensive irons, to complex aggregates with many additional functions, and even to powerful, including professional, ironing and steam ironing systems.
By the way, to demonstrate the invulnerability of the sole of such irons, sellers, to the surprise of buyers, spend on the sapphire sole with a nail, and then demonstrate an absolutely smooth surface without damage.
The most common and popular material today is the sole of the iron stainless steel, which has properties that can iron any fabrics, also affordable and corrosion resistant.
But here everyone aspires to patent his own development. So, the company Rowenta introduced the outsole of Platinium in stainless steel with Lazer treatment and additional top coating.
A new generation of irons was introduced by Bosch, using a combination of different materials. The base is aluminum, which has a high thermal conductivity, and is coated with a special shell of stainless steel.
So several types of soles were created at once. For example, the matte surface of the Inox glissee sole with a golden tint provides a good ironing of any fabric. Steel, in which nickel is added for strength, is rolled under high pressure for this.
The Granit glisse sole is scratch resistant and fully justifies its name: the stainless steel base is covered with super-hard enamel and really resembles treated granite. The coating prevents the formation of scratches and chips, it protects even from side impacts, and it is cleaned easily - with the help of a normal cotton cloth.
Creating a beautiful blue Ceraslide-Color sole, Bosch took a different path, taking as a basis a light and inexpensive aluminum baseplate and covering it with heavy-duty fired ceramics - this not only gave scratch resistance and easy cleaning, but also made it suitable for synthetic tissues.
It is worth mentioning about the group of producers who prefer ceramic and metal-ceramic coating of the sole. Buyers like them because of the moderate price and high quality ironing, as well as attractive appearance. But cermets require very careful handling, it is fragile enough - any damage quickly leads to peeling of the ceramic coating.
Irons with a cermet sole are represented by many companies, such as Bosch, Philips, but it is particularly active in developing this Tefal technology with its Ultragliss Diffusion sole, which glides well on fabric that does not clog it and is well cleaned. It is these soles at high temperatures that slide much better than other types of coatings.
Knowing the specifics of the materials described and for what fabrics and under what conditions you will use the iron, you can now easily decide how to choose an iron on the material of the sole.
The list of types of soles presented here, of course, is far from exhaustive. So, the company Rowenta engaged in the promotion of titanium coatings of the sole, very durable and not prone to chips and scratches. True, such coatings have drawbacks - low thermal conductivity and high price of titanium.
Many housewives choose irons with teflon-coated soles - probably because of its ability to glide well at low temperatures, because it is ideal for synthetic fabrics.