Silicone Coating/Impregnating | Definition

Pronunciation:

sili-cōn cō-ting / im-preg-nā-ting

Definition:

Silicone coatings have become much more standard in the last 10 years in the industry. Usually, silicone is applied to both sides of nylon or polyester (also called impregnation) to waterproof the base woven fabric. There is no significant difference between coatings and impregnation.

Pros of Silicone coatings include:

Lighter
Increases fabric tear strength
Chemically inert (no hydrolysis)
Highly durable
Totally hydrophobic
Increased abrasion resistance

Cons of Silicone coatings include:

Higher price
Harder to seam seal/sew
Not great for heavier-duty applications
Can be more difficult to get extremely high hydrostatic head rating
Cannot be mixed with chemical fire retardants

Associated Products:

1.1 oz Silnylon

1.1 oz MTN Silnylon

Glossary Category:

Fabric Finishing