Studies on Influence of Blowing Agent in Polymeric Coating Formulations on Thermal Resistance of Coated Textiles

It is well known that the major factor influencing thermal resistance of any textile substrate is the air entrapped in its porous structure. In the case of coated textiles, apart from the air space in the substrate, it is possible to create air space in the polymer coating also. Blowing agents have been incorporated into coating formulations of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU) and applied on a number of textile substrates like nylon, nonwoven and jute. The effect of increasing the blowing agent proportion in the formulation on thermal resistance of coated fabrics has been studied. The effect on physical properties has also been studied. It has been demonstrated that incorporation of a blowing agent results in a significant increase in the thermal resistance of coated textiles, without major deterioration of physical properties.