| Typical
Applications
Tuftane film does not have many typical applications and remains a niche product with lots of highly specialised applications. Tuftane and TPU’s in general are a ‘kommen und gehen’ business always changing, with new applications turning up almost daily. However, there are some applications for film which have remained more or less constant over the years:
Emblems and Labels Tuftane is ideal for heat bonding identification emblems and labels to fabric. The Tuftane is heat laminated to fabric typically polyester/cotton) before the fabric is printed and cut into the emblem or label and acts as a hot melt adhesive. The film used is polyester TPU in 100 or 125 microns. Tuftane’s Benefits:
Acoustic Foam Tuftane film makes an ideal protective coating for acoustic foam applications used typically in diesel engined cars or vans to reduce engine noise. Also used for sound insulation in compressors. The film is laminated to the foam by various methods including flame lamination, heat lamination or using an adhesive. The film used is 25 or 50 micron polyester or polyether TPU film. The choice of film is decided on whether you want oil resistance or hydrolysis resistance. The film has to be as thin as possible so it does not affect the acoustic properties. Tuftane’s Benefits:
Diving Vests (Stab Jackets) Tuftane is used as the inflatable bladder enclosed in a nylon fabric shell. These vests are used by commercial and military divers to maintain their level in the water. The bladder is inflated with compressed oxygen from the diver’s air tank and is regulated by special valves on the vest’s front. The film used is a polyether TPU to give the resistance to hydrolysis attack needed in this application. The gauge used is 400 microns. The film is High Frequency welded to form the bladder. Tuftane’s Benefits:
Keyboard covers Tuftane is used for keyboard covers to provide protection against dust and spillages. It is used for computer keyboards as well as cash registers. The film is vacuum formed and designed to conform to a specific model’s key configuration. The keyboard covers are usually supplied with a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the edges to hold the cover in place. The film used in a polyether TPU in 250 micros. Tuftane’s Benefits:
Hospital Mattresses Air filled mattresses are increasingly popular in hospitals as an effective way of preventing pressure ulcers and bed sores. They provide better weight distribution for any patient with limited movement. They are usually inflated and deflated by means of a sophisticated air pump which can give a pulse supply to increase blood circulation. Tuftane polyether TPU is used in this application in 350 micron gauge. The mattress is manufactured by HF welding 2 pieces of film together in a cell type structure. Tuftane’s Benefits:
Sewer Linings Sewer pipes can be relined by means of pulling a felt through the sewer pipe and impregnating with polyester resin. The polyester resin is then heat cured with boiling water to form a rigid sewer lining. This saves the road being dug up and therefore is less disruptive and saves money. The felt is made into a lay-flat tube before impregnation with resin, and is laminated with a polyester TPU extruded layer. The laminated felt is made into the tube by stitching and the stitching is covered with a Tuftane film 25mm wide (1 inch). The Tuftane film is heat welded or solvent welded to the stitching. The TPU extruded layer and film are used as a barrier to the polyester resin during cure and has a very good styrene resistance. The film used is 325 or 500 micron polyester TPU. Tuftane’s benefits:
Seam Sealing Tuftane is widely used in foul weather clothing (golf suits, etc) in a form of heat sealing tape to seal the stitching to make them rain proof. It is solid in the form of tape (19mm) and is heat sealed to the stitching using a hot-air gun. The Tuftane used is polyester polyurethane in 125 microns gauge. Tuftane’s Benefits:
Miscellaneous Applications The List of Applications for Tuftane Film stretches from A to Z. Here are a few examples:
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