Chemical Resistance of Coated Fabrics

Coating Advantages Disadvantages
PVC Easy to flame retard
Weldable
Totally water resistant
Some chemical resistance
High coating weights possible
Poor solvent resistance (not drycleanable)
Embittles on weathering
Needs special additives for adhesion to synthetics
PU Good chemical resistance
Waterproof and drycleanable
Bonds well to basecloths
Subject to hyrolysis with age
Difficult to flame retard
Generally expensive
Acrylic Excellent weathering
Can be drycleanable
Can be low cost
Not easy to flame retard
Needs special forulations to give good water resistance.
PVAc Good adhesion
Low cost
Poor chemical resistance
Poor water resistance
PTFE Good stiffening power
Heat and water resistant
Excellent chemical and weather resistance
Naturally fire retardand
Expensive
Difficult to weld
PE Good adhesion
Easy to heat weld
Good chemical resistance
Low melting point
Relatively poor flex crack resistance
Somewhat stiff
UV stabilisers attacked by acid conditions