Typically, the fabric is coated and laminated with synthetic materials for increased strength, durability, and environmental resistance.
Strength, durability, cost, and stretch make polyester material the most widely used in fabric structures.
Laminates generally consist of vinyl films over woven or knitted polyester meshes (called scrims or substrates), while vinyl-coated polyesters usually have a high-count, high-tensile base fabric coated with a bondable substance that provides extra strength.
A laminated fabric usually is composed of a reinforcing polyester scrim pressed between two layers of unsupported PVC film.
With an open-weave or mesh polyester scrim, the exterior vinyl films bond to themselves through the openings in the fabric.
The adhesive enables the seam to meet shear forces and load requirements for a structure at all temperatures.
Open-weave scrims generally make the fabric more economical, although this can also depend on the number and type of features that you require in the vinyl.
Vinyl-coated polyester is manufactured in large panels by heat-sealing an over-lap seam with either a radio-frequency welder or a hot-air sealer.
The seam area should be stronger than the original coated fabric when testing for tensile strength.
The PVC coating liquid (vinyl Organisol or Plastisol) contains chemicals to achieve the desired properties of color, water and mildew resistance, and flame retardancy.
Woven fiberglass coated with PTFE (Teflon or silicone) is also a widely used base material.
The fiberglass carries a high ultimate tensile strength, behaves elastically, and does not suffer from significant stress relaxation or creep.
PTFE fiberglass is additionally Energy Star and Cool Roof Rating Council certified.
[2] Because of its energy efficiency, high melting temperature and lack of creep, fiberglass-based fabrics have been the material of choice for stadium domes and other permanent structures, particularly in the United States.
The opaque quality also prevents stains, dirt, repairs, or slightly mismatched panels on the structure's exterior from being noticed from the inside.
As the material ages, the topcoating will eventually erode, exposing the fabric to dirt and making it more difficult to clean.
In some cases, no lighting is required as the fabric used is generally translucent, which makes it an energy efficient solution.