Abrasion Resistance: Wearability of a vinyl-coated fabric (or any product) to resist surface damage from rubbing or chafing.
Adhesion: Bonding strength between the backing and vinyl surface.
Backing: Any product used as a carrier to support a vinyl surface adding overall product strength, including fabric, nonwoven, paper, etc.
Calendar: Dry compound manufacturing method used to apply a controlled coating of vinyl gum to produce a film. Compound is heated and drawn through a series of hightemperature polished rolls to combine all chemicals into the necessary thickness. It can then be laminated to any backing or remain as a film, if desired.
Cast Coating: Liquid (plastisol) manufacturing process for expanded or non-expanded vinyls using casting release paper to carry product during production process. This manufacturing method allows greater accuracy in total product quality vs. calendaring vinyl production procedure.
Expanded Vinyl: Vinyl-coated fabric construction consisting of 3 major parts - backing, foam (center section), and vinyl skin surface. During production, heat is utilized to “cook” the vinyl, making the middle foam layer “expand”, thus creating the term “expanded vinyl”.
Filler: Additive (calcium carbonate) generally used to increase the weight of a vinyl product in lieu of adding other raw materials. (Fillers are also referred to as “loading agents”) Film: Solid or flexible vinyl (at any thickness) without a backing.
Flat Vinyl: Another name for non-expanded vinyl.
Fogging: Phenomenon created when a vinyl-coated fabric or film is subjected to high temperatures in confined areas. Result is plasticizer exudation (common to automobile interiors).
Gauge: Total thickness of a vinyl product (including backing, if present) usually measured in .001”. Grain (Embossing): Mechanically textured surface of vinyl. Laminated: Bonding of film and fabric usually with heat and adhesive. Mildew Proof: Treatments given to vinyl compound and/or a backing to retard the growth of a variety of fungi that ultimately result in mildew growth.
Non-expanded Vinyl: Vinyl-coated product manufactured without a foam layer between the skin surface and backing.
Pigment: Compound used to provide color. Plasticizer: Additive used to make basic, raw material, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) soft and flexible.
Print: Application of tinted inks used to change the surface appearance of a solid color. Prints are used to give vinyl fabrics a variety of surface looks, including lorals, leathers, etc.
PVC: Common name for polyvinyl chloride resin, the basic raw material in all vinyls. Slip Finish: Same as top coat.
Skin Thickness: Overall thickness of the wear layer surface (solid vinyl). Usually measured in .001”.
Strike-through: Manufacturing defect that allows texture from backing to show on surface area.
Tear-strength: Ability of vinyl fabric to resist tearing. Measured horizontally and vertically in pounds/inch.
Top Coat: Thin layer of clear or tinted vinyl used on wear surface to protect total product from abrasion. Top coat also provides desired degree of gloss. Unsupported Vinyl: Any vinyl film or expanded vinyl produced without a backing.
UV Stabilized Pigments: Special pigments formulated to resist fading or color change resulting from longterm exposure to the sun (ultraviolet rays).
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