Coated Fabrics

About Coated Fabrics

The coated fabrics is a flexible composite material formed by applying an adhesive to one or both sides of a fabric substrate and precisely coating it with different rubber compounds depending on the final application of the fabric. After the coating cures, it forms a strong bond between the rubber and the fabric. The final product after coating and curing is strong and flexible. It has good stability, is washable, durable and much stronger than uncoated fabrics. The rubberized fabric has a very tight texture and therefore low permeability and diffusion. They conduct electricity and are resistant to weather, oil and temperature.

Coated fabrics are recommended for all applications requiring a watertight or highly watertight material that is not breathable. Depending on the coating type, the fabric will have different specifications: Silicone coating can increase tensile strength, TPU coating can be welded, PU coating can also increase water resistance, while making the fabric more rigid and stable, which is very suitable for Backpacks and handbags.

If you need material to make a tent or tarp, bag or backpack, or if you want to sew a waterproof cover or a simple footprint, you're in the right place.

Note that "coating" does not necessarily equate to waterproofing. If you're looking for waterproof fabrics, take note of the info on the water column or use the filter options.

Coated Fabrics Specifications

Selecting a coated fabrics requires analysis of dimensional specifications such as fiber denier, overall thickness, overall width or outside diameter (OD), overall length, and fabric weight. Denier is a unit of measurement for the linear mass density of a fiber. It is defined as mass per 9000 meters (m) in grams (g).

Filament denier is defined as the mass of a single fiber per 9000 meters. Total denier is also defined as mass per 9000 meters, but applies to agglomerated filaments, such as yarn. The total thickness of the coated fabrics is measured with a gauge consisting of two flattened cylinders for the relevant sample area and a spring-loaded mechanism for applying consistent pressure. The overall width or outside diameter (OD) is the cut width of a roll of coated fabrics or coated textile material.

How Coated Fabrics Are Made

Coated fabrics are made by applying polymers to textile materials. For some applications, adhesives are used to form stronger bonds. A variety of coating application techniques are available for this process, including direct application, thermal or adhesive lamination, transfer coating and dipping. After the coating is applied, the polymer layer needs time to cure. This new textile fabric system now has improved performance, longevity, durability, and many other design attributes.

Our products are designed to meet the unique needs of each application and include fabrics such as knits, films, wovens and nonwovens. We offer a comprehensive selection of coating materials including:

▪ Acrylic fibers

▪ Polyurethane

▪ Phenolic resin

▪ PVC

▪ Rubber: natural rubber, EPDM, neoprene, nitrile rubber, viton

▪ Silicone

After the textile is coated with the desired polymer and cured, one or more finishing services may be required to create a fully custom end product. Depending on the needs of the application, it can be offset offset, slit or edged to provide maximum durability and performance. At Tex Tech, our products are backed by a comprehensive selection of physical testing techniques and state-of-the-art laboratories, including:

▪ Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

▪ Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

▪ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)

▪ Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

▪ Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)

Coated Fabric Type

Product types of coated fabrics include blankets and battings as well as various woven, knitted and nonwoven materials. Blankets or batting (cotton batting) are made of thick layers of woven and/or non-woven fabric. Woven products are used in the formation of composite tools and structures. Knitted products consist of continuous fibers processed into two-dimensional or three-dimensional knitted structures. Knitting provides a more conforming structure than weaving, which is valuable for contoured surfaces. Nonwoven coated fabrics are textile-based or fiber-based materials that are formed into mats of randomly oriented fibers, felts, needlepunched, spunbond or meltblown structures.

Coated fabrics vary in material type.Choices include:

▪ Synthesis and Polymers

▪ Acetate and Triacetate

▪ Acrylic and Modacrylic

▪ Performance

▪ Flexible

▪ Fluoropolymer

▪ nylon and polyamide

▪ Olefins and Polyolefins

▪ Polyester

Coated fabrics are also made from polyethylene, rayon, styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Some coated fabrics are made from natural fibers such as cotton, wool, hemp, jute, flax (linen), or silk. Others are made of glass, fiberglass, E-glass or S-glass. Products made of rock wool, slag wool, ceramic, boron, carbon or graphite, silica, metal fibers and zirconia are also available.

Application of Coated Fabrics

Highly diverse industries have adopted polymer coated fabrics owing to the numerous benefits offered by polymer coated fabrics. Coated fabrics are used to make thermal protection systems for space vehicles, airbags for the automotive industry, medical blood pressure cuffs and liquid storage tanks. They are also used in agricultural, construction and industrial applications, and in the production of:

▪ FAA life jackets and life rafts

▪ Airplane escape slides

▪ Sports and leisure equipment

▪ Protective clothing

▪ Gas diffusion layers for flow batteries and fuel cells

▪ Parachute

▪ Roofs, awnings and canopies

Since coated fabrics can be easily tailored to different textile substrates, coating materials and coating methods, they are a versatile high-performance product. Coated fabrics can be adapted to the needs of a variety of applications. Breathable textiles are used to produce high-visibility clothing, waterproof textiles are used to make tents and sleeping bags, and other coated fabrics are used to produce hospital hygiene products, aerospace components, and more.