PVC Coated Polyester: PVC coated polyester is an excellent material for both permanent and temporary tensile fabric structures. PVC coated polyester is noted for its superior strength, flexibility, translucency, and affordability. UV stabilizers, fire retardant chemicals, and anti-fungicides are all included in the PVC coating that is applied to a polyester base cloth. The structural longevity of PVC coated polyester textiles exceeds 20 years.
PVC Coated polyester is a highly durable architectural fabric which comes in a solid, coated fabric for exterior weatherproof applications as well as PVC meshes which can be used for thermal facades and also for internal acoustic liners.
There are a large variety of solid PVC coated polyester fabrics from a variety of suppliers with varying weights (from 590 gsm up to 1300 gsm), tensile strengths (from 2800 - 5600 N / 5cm) and various coatings available which provide different solar transmission (20% for lighter weight fabrics, down to 8% for higher tensile strength, heavier fabrics) and durability (design life from 7 - 25 years, depending on grade of fabric).
Various PVC meshes (which have an open weave) are available which provide acoustic absorption properties for use as internal liners. PVC meshes can also be used for external facades to act as a thermal barrier to the exterior of a building.
Solid PVC/Polyester is selected for external applications when a cost effective fabric, with moderate to minimal maintenance is required. It can also be printed on. It is not as high in tensile strength, nor does it last as long as PTFE/Glass, but it is more cost effective and it can also be printed on, and can be used in demountable structures. PTFE/Glass cannot be printed on and also cannot be used in temporary/demountable structures due to the fiberglass substrate.
The PVDF coating on PVC/Polyester has a low friction co-efficient but is not as self-cleaning as PTFE (Teflon) and therefore requires more regular maintenance. The frequency of cleaning is determined by the grade of PVC/Polyester selected, the structure's location, fabric geometry, and exposure to pollutants. Cleaning frequency is included in the OMM provided by the D&C contractor.
Depending on the thickness and grade of the coated solid fabric in question, solar transmission ranges from 5% (for the highest grade, thickest PVC/Polyester fabrics) to 19% for lower grade, lighter weight PVC/Polyester.
All PVC/Polyester comes in standard white on white. There are, however, many grades of PVC/Polyester that come with a range of standard colours.
Depending on the grade of PVC/Polyester, warranties range from 5 years up to 20 years.
PVC/Polyester fabrics can be recycled under various processes offered by the various manufacturers of PVC/Polyester, as well as industry associations. Using chemical separation technology designed to produce high quality recylcate streams from composite polymer materials, the Texback process is offered by the Vinyl Council anda STA for PVC/Polyester products at end of life in Australia. Serge Ferrari offers the Texyloop and Polyloop processes for recycling these fabrics in Europe. And Mehler offers the REACH program for recycling its products.
There are various PVC mesh (open weave rather than solid) materials that can be used in the internal space of a structure to help reduce reverberation and improve acoustic performance in a fully or partially enclosed internal space. Case studies have shown the use of acoustic meshes can absorb up to 65% sound tranmission.
There are various PVC mesh (open weave rather than solid) materials that can be used as an external facade on a structure to provide a thermal barrier and reduce heat transmission to the inside of a building. Case studies have shown up to 50% A/C power reduction after adding PVC mesh cladding on the external facade of a building.
