Fabrics and Coatings for Awnings
For several decades, the choice of awning fabric was limited to cotton duck or canvas. While cotton looked and felt great, it had several performance limitations when used outdoors. Even though cotton canvas is still used by people who prefer a traditional look, most people prefer using synthetics for residential and commercial awnings.
Earlier most people avoided using synthetic fabrics because they were less durable and inflexible when compared to cotton. However, improvement in technology, has given synthetic fabrics greater flexibility and strength. Coated fabrics, made using polyester fibres, improve the blend between polyester and cotton allowing the manufacturers to produce stronger, cleaner, and smoother products.
People also use woven polyester fibres for awnings. These fibres are mixed with chemicals that have anti-wicking properties. Yarns are treated with chemicals during the spinning process which helps them resist capillaries like moisture. This helps them keep moisture and dirt out of the scrim, and makes them mildew-resistant.
The chemicals for ultraviolet stabilisation and resistance have also improved. Also, air-jet looms are producing woven fabrics with fewer anomalies which have helped in extending the life expectancies of the products.
Selection of Fabric
The choice of fabric for residential and commercial awnings will depend on the application. When choosing a fabric you must consider:
a) Exterior or interior use
b) Standard or illuminated awnings
Fabrics that are used for illuminated awnings differ from other fabrics in translucency and weight. Fabrics for illuminated awnings, like vinyl-laminated and vinyl-coated polyester, are usually designed to maximise light translucency.
People often use heat-sealed inset fabric, eradication, heat-transfer films, silk screening, and hand painting to decorate awning fabrics. These methods may not work well with all fabrics, so check fabric compatibility before using a graphical method.
Handling and maintenance also vary among fabrics. Before selecting a fabric, make sure you check if it can be sewn or heat-sealed, their stretch and shrinkage factors, spec sheets, whether cleaning agents can be used to maintain the fabric, and the availability of technical manuals.
Types of Fabrics
The seven primary fabrics that are used for residential or commercial awnings include:
a) Vinyl-Coated Polyester
b) Vinyl-Laminated Polyester
c) Solution-Dyed Acrylic
d) Painted Polyester/Cotton
e) Acrylic-Coated Polyester
f) Solution-Dyed Modacrylic
g) Vinyl-Coated Cotton
Most awning fabrics weigh about 8 to 18 ounces per square yard. All the seven types of awning fabrics have good abrasion resistance. They usually last for five to 10 years, depending on the climate and fabric care.
Coating, Lamination and Topcoat
Most people use topcoats, coatings, and laminates to equip the awning fabrics with protective qualities. Coating is used to increase the fabric’s resistance to water, flames, wicking, mildew, and UV rays. Coating may also be used to allow graphic acceptance, change light transmittance, and to change the appearance of the fabric.
Laminates are used to get the benefit of two or more fabrics in one fabric. They are formed by reinforcing the base fabric by calendaring it between two layers of thermoplastic film. Manufacturers not only use heat and pressure to laminate the fabric, but may also an adhesive layer to bind the film to the base fabric.
Topcoat is an additional layer of protection that is added to either laminated or coated fabric. It is typically a film that is laminated on the exposed or top side of the fabric. Topcoat is used to improve the graphics and increase the durability of the fabric. The cost of topcoating will vary depending on the film you use. Fluorocarbon topcoat films are more expensive when compared to urethane and acrylic topcoats.