Vinyl Coated Polyester

Vinyl-coated polyester is the most frequently used material for flexible fabric structures. It is made up of a polyester scrim, a bonding or adhesive agent, and exterior PVC coatings. The scrim supports the coating (which is initially applied in liquid form) and provides the tensile strength, elongation, tear strength, and dimensional stability of the resulting fabric. Vinyl-coated polyester is manufactured in large panels by heat-sealing an over-lap seam with either a radio-frequency welder or a hot-air sealer. A proper seam will be able to carry the load requirements for the structure. The seam area should be stronger than the original coated fabric when testing for tensile strength.

The base fabric's tensile strength is determined by the size (denier) and strength (tenacity) of the yarns and the number of yarns per linear inch or meter. The larger the yarn and the more yarns per inch, the greater the finished product's tensile strength.

The adhesive agent acts as a chemical bond between the polyester fibers and the exterior coating and also prevents fibers from wicking, or absorbing water in a process that could result in freeze-thaw damage in the fabric.

The PVC coating liquid (vinyl Organisol or Plastisol) contains chemicals to achieve the desired properties of color, water and mildew resistance, and flame retardancy. Fabric can also be manufactured that contains high levels of light transmission or can be made completely opaque. After the coating has been applied to the scrim, the fabric is put through a heating chamber that dries the liquid coating. PVC coatings are available in a range of colors, although non-standard colors can be pricey. Colors may be subject to minimum order runs that allow the coating machine to clear out traces of any previous color.

The molten vinyl coating (PVC) makes it waterproof with a high resistance to dirt, mildew, oil, salt, chemicals and UV. The vinyl coating on the fibers give the material added strength and durability. Vinyl coated Polyester is a very dimensionally stable fabric that does not tear with any ease, nor will it stretch, crack, rot or mildew. It can be sewn or heat sealed by way of RF(Radio Frequency) Welding or Hot Air Welding.

Many fabrics such as this are now imported from Korea, Taiwan and other Asian countries, But there are many manufactures still in the US. luckily most of these manufacturers still have the support of Government amendments such as the Buy American Act(BAA - 41 U.S.C. §§ 10a–10d) and the Berry Amendment(USC, Title 10, Section 2533a) which only allows the US defense departments to purchase fabrics made from the USA. The vinyl products made from this material include Military applications such as troop shelters, vehicle covers, military carry bags, airport and military base hangers, Commercial applications such as truck tarps, gym floor and wall mats, dock seals, event tents and structures, shade applications for sporting courts(Tennis), shelters and playgrounds, portable storage covers, cable reel covers, pallet covers and flexible portable containment devices and much more.

Fabric
Woven
  • Aertex
  • Airdura
  • Airguard
  • Barathea
  • Barkcloth
  • Batiste
  • Bedford cord
  • Bengaline silk
  • Beta cloth
  • Bombazine
  • Brilliantine
  • Broadcloth
  • Buckram
  • Bunting
  • Burlap
  • C change
  • Calico
  • Cambric
  • Canvas
  • Chambray
  • Capilene
  • Cedar bark
  • Char cloth
  • Charmeuse
  • Charvet
  • Cheesecloth
  • Chiffon
  • Chino
  • Chintz
  • Cloqué
  • Cloth of gold
  • Cordura
  • Duck
  • Coutil
  • Crape
  • Cretonne
  • Dazzle
  • Denim
  • Dimity
  • Donegal tweed
  • Dowlas
  • Drill
  • Drugget
  • Foulard
  • Flannel
  • Gabardine
  • Gauze
  • Gazar
  • Georgette
  • Ghalamkar
  • Gingham
  • Grenadine
  • Grenfell Cloth
  • Grosgrain
  • Habutai
  • Haircloth
  • Harris Tweed
  • Herringbone
  • Himroo
  • Hodden
  • Irish linen
  • Jamdani
  • Kerseymere
  • Khādī
  • Khaki drill
  • Kente cloth
  • Lamé
  • Lawn
  • Linsey-woolsey
  • Loden
  • Longcloth
  • Lumalive
  • Mackinaw
  • Madapolam
  • Madras
  • Moleskin
  • Muslin
  • Nainsook
  • Nankeen
  • Ninon
  • Oilskin
  • Organdy
  • Organza
  • Osnaburg
  • Ottoman
  • Oxford
  • Paduasoy
  • Percale
  • Pongee
  • Poplin
  • Rakematiz
  • Rayadillo
  • Rep
  • Rinzu
  • Ripstop
  • Russell cord
  • Saga Nishiki
  • Samite
  • Sateen
  • Satin
  • Saye
  • Scarlet
  • Seersucker
  • Serge
  • Scrim
  • Shot silk
  • Stuff
  • Taffeta
  • Tais
  • Toile
  • Tucuyo
  • Tweed
  • Twill
  • Ultrasuede
  • Ventile
  • Vinyl coated polyester
  • Viyella
  • Voile
  • Wadmal
  • Wigan
  • Whipcord
  • Zephyr
  • Zorbeez
Figured woven
  • Brocade
  • Camlet
  • Damask
  • Lampas
  • Songket
Pile woven
  • Baize
  • Chenille
  • Corduroy
  • Crimplene
  • Fustian
  • Mockado
  • Moquette
  • Plush
  • Polar fleece
  • Terrycloth
  • Velours du Kasaï
  • Velvet
  • Velveteen
  • Zibeline
Nonwoven
  • Felt
  • Cedar bark
Knitted
  • Boiled wool
  • Coolmax
  • Machine knitting
  • Milliskin
  • Jersey
  • Velour
Netted
  • Bobbinet
  • Carbon fiber
  • Fishnet
  • Lace
  • Mesh
  • Needlerun Net
  • Ninon
  • Tulle
Technical
  • Ballistic nylon
  • Ban-Lon
  • Conductive
  • Darlexx
  • E-textiles
  • Gannex
  • Gore-Tex
  • Silnylon
  • Spandex
  • Stub-tex
  • SympaTex
  • Windstopper
Patterns
  • Argyle
  • Bizarre silk
  • Herringbone
  • Houndstooth
  • Paisley
  • Pin stripes
  • Tartan (Plaid)
  • Tattersall
Textile fibers
  • Acrylic
  • Alpaca
  • Angora
  • Cashmere
  • Coir
  • Cotton
  • Hemp
  • Jute
  • Kevlar
  • Linen
  • Mohair
  • Nylon
  • Microfiber
  • Olefin
  • Pashmina
  • Polyester
  • Piña
  • Ramie
  • Rayon
  • Sea silk
  • Silk
  • Sisal
  • Spandex
  • Spider silk
  • Wool
Finishing and printing
  • Androsia
  • Batik
  • Beetling
  • Bingata
  • Bògòlanfini
  • Calendering
  • Decatising
  • Finishing
  • Fulling
  • Heatsetting
  • Mercerization
  • Moire
  • Nap
  • Rogan printing
  • Rōketsuzome
  • Roller printing
  • Sanforization
  • Tenterhook
  • Textile printing
  • Waxed cotton
  • Woodblock printing
  • Indienne
Related
  • Dyeing
  • Fiber
  • History of textiles
  • History of silk
  • Knitting
  • Pandy
  • Shrinkage
  • Synthetic fabric
  • Terminology
  • Manufacturing
  • Preservation
  • Weaving
  • Yarn