When fabrics are coated their deformation behavior changes considerably. Typically fabrics become stiff and paper-like after coating. Some of their properties, namely handle and drape deteriorate in part because the coating fills the spaces between the yarns, cementing the warp and weft threads together [1,2]. The lack of understanding of the interaction between fiber structure and coating material limits our ability to optimize materials and textile structural configuration, especially under complex loading conditions. Fiber substrate governs the strength, elongation and dimensional stability and the coating influences permeability, bonding and abrasion properties; however many physical properties such as tensile strength, modulus, shear strength and adhesion depend on the interaction between substrate and coating. We are in the process of understanding these interactions to ensure long term performance of coated fabrics and to design next generation fabric-coating system. We examine the physical and mechanical properties of the coated fabrics and controlled uncoated fiber to establish the role of substrate-coating interaction. This research aims at developing a model to assess the deformation behaviors of the fabrics under load and to compare those with the experiment.

The existing models of mechanical behavior have primarily focused on predicting response to axial and biaxial loadings of coated woven fabrics. For axial and biaxial loading, the behavior is dominated by the fiber and yarn tensile response. In contrast, loading off-axis to the fiber direction results in shearing, which involves a more complex interaction of fiber rotation, yarn compression at intersecting points, and flow or straining of the coating. Because of the increased complexity, there has been little research conducted on the response under arbitrary loading paths and histories. Our attempt towards modeling focuses on developing a close to reality framework ensuring most probable fabric-coating system.

Greige Cord with a RFL of high
modulus (enlarged cross section)




Greige Cord with a RFL of low
modulus (two ply construction)




Greige Cord with a RFL of low
modulus (cross section)

References:

1. Y. Chen, D. W. Lloyd and S. C. Harlock, J. Text. Inst., 1995, 86 No. 4
2. NTC Project No. F00-D06