What fabric is aircraft approved?
Stewart Systems is certified for use with all certified Dacron/Polyester aircraft fabric. Currently there are three brand names of Dacron/Polyester aircraft fabric available: Superflite, Ceconite, and PolyFiber. The best base for general upholstery is polyester, which is often blended with other fibers to be more resistant to fading or wrinkles. It’s ideal for daily living—think couches, dining room chairs, etc. Ensure you choose 100% polyester to reap the benefits of its time-tested strength.Currently, only a few approved fabrics are used for aircraft coverings, such as the polyester fabrics Ceconite™, Stits/Polyfiber™, and Superflite™.For decades, wool-blend fabrics have been the industry standard for aircraft seat covers. Wool’s natural flame-resistant properties and ability to regulate temperature make it an ideal choice for upholstery.This includes cushions, drapes, rugs, throws, and bed linens. They’re not just decorative; soft furnishings also add comfort and functionality to living spaces. Upholstery, on the other hand, is the material (fabric, padding, and springs) that covers furniture, such as sofas, chairs, and headboards.
What is the best fabric covering system for aircraft?
Poly-Fiber is the world’s best-selling fabric-covering system. For over forty years, the all-vinyl Poly-Fiber system has proven to be the easiest to use, most forgiving, and most durable system on the market. Synthetic fibres, such as polyester, olefin, and rayon, are the most durable due to their resilience, moisture resistance, and ease of cleaning. These materials are engineered to resist fading, abrasion, and stretching.Synthetic fibres: Polyester, nylon, and acrylic are known for their durability and resistance to fading, staining, and wrinkling. They’re a good choice for high-traffic areas but can lack aesthetic appeal. Blends: Fabrics that combine natural and synthetic fibres can balance comfort and durability.Almost all modern aircraft fabric is made from polyester. If you are building a fabric-covered aircraft, you have multiple fabrics to choose from: polyester, Dacron, Stits, Ceconite, Poly-Fiber, Superflite or Oratex.The ratio of 60/40 between polyester and cotton creates a blend that balances durability and comfort, with a slight emphasis on durability. This cotton polyester blend, therefore, is often used in sportswear, work uniforms, or casual fashion.Nylon: Known for its exceptional strength and resistance to pilling and fading. Polyester: Widely utilized in performance fabrics due to its compatibility and reinforcing properties. Wool: Known for being luxuriously soft and thick, wool can be blended with synthetic fibers for enhanced durability.
What are the two types of fabric in use for aviation?
Early aircraft used organic materials such as cotton and cellulose nitrate dope; modern fabric-covered designs usually use synthetic materials such as Dacron and butyrate dope for adhesive. Early aircraft utilized organic fabrics like Irish linen and cotton for airframe covering. However, these materials exhibited sagging tendencies that exposed the aircraft structure to external elements. To mitigate this, builders started applying coatings of oils and varnishes.Early aircraft used organic materials such as cotton and cellulose nitrate dope; modern fabric-covered designs usually use synthetic materials such as Dacron and butyrate dope for adhesive. Modern methods are often used in the restoration of older types that were originally covered using traditional methods.
What material is used for aircraft seat covers?
For decades, wool-blend fabrics have been the industry standard for aircraft seat covers. Wool’s natural flame-resistant properties and ability to regulate temperature make it an ideal choice for upholstery. There aren’t any materials that are fireproof, however, there are some fabrics that are more resistant to fire than others. Due to the structure of the fiber, cotton burns easily, whereas materials like wool resist flames. The tighter the fabric, the longer it will take to burn.Sometimes referred to as fireproof fabric, fire resistant, flame retardant fabric or flame resistant fabric, our fire retardant fabrics include Industrial 18oz Vinyl, Sunforger Army Duck, and Duvetyne—see these products below.Fabrics that are not rated can only be used for upholstery if they are first chemically treated with a fire retardant treatment. Chemical treatment consists of either soaking the fabric in a fire retardant chemical or back-coating it with fire retardant.Many people who must deal with fire in their jobs question if polyester is flammable. Polyester is considered one of the most flame-retardant materials available on the market. This is because it is not inherently incendiary. It means that it is difficult to ignite and is unlikely to catch fire.
What is the best fabric to use for upholstery?
Cotton or cotton mix weaves are also a great choice for upholstery. Cotton fabrics tend to be very strong and durable, it is for this reason cotton is the primary fibre used in sewing thread. Since the late 1970’s most aircraft seating upholstery fabrics have been constructed of primarily wool yarns, usually blended with a small percentage of nylon fiber in the warp yarns to reduce yarn breaks during the weaving process.Both linen and hemp fabrics are woven and are perfect for upholstery. Inherently robust, these plant based fibres tend to have a nice amount of stretch and a tiny ecological footprint. Cotton or cotton mix weaves are also a great choice for upholstery.