Material Sourcing

 

Material Sourcing

Fabrico Sun Domes works with hundreds of different materials, which we procure from a wide network of sources, assuring that our customers’ products are made from first quality materials engineered to meet their needs; our long-standing relationships with a large number of vendors ensures the lowest cost without compromising our high quality standards. We also work with vendors to develop new materials, or new formulations of existing materials, to achieve particular characteristics of the final product. Among the materials we use are:

  • Simple plastics (such as polyvinyl chloride – PVC) or synthetic rubbers (such as polyurethane, neoprene, silicone and other synthetic rubber materials), coated or laminated (see Glossary of Terms for definitions of coated and laminated fabrics) onto base fabrics such as woven polyester or nylon. These materials are chosen for the specific application, and can range from light weight, relatively low strength combinations weighing as little as 8 oz. per square yard, to high strength, heavily coated composites capable of withstanding tensile loads as high as 1,000 lbs per inch of width, and weighing as much as 65 oz. per square yard. Additional features, such as fire retardancy, UV resistance, anti-fungal treatments, exceptionally high abrasion and/or puncture resistance, resistance to the build-up of static electric charge, etc. can be incorporated into these materials when such properties are required by the specific application.
  • Plastic and synthetic rubber films (without the fabric scrim support) for applications in which elasticity and the ability to conform to a number of different configurations are required. These film products can be quite simple in their chemical composition, or can be made to meet the stringent requirements of the USDA (for contact with food products), the FDA (for medical products) or virtually any other requirement. We also use clear PVC films for glass-like visual clarity, as in our popular Sun-Dome line of swimming pool covers.
  • High-temperature or high-strength materials, examples of which include silicone-impregnated fiberglass cloth, kevlarR (coated or un-coated), NomexR, or ceramic fabrics capable of withstanding continuous contact with objects at temperatures well exceeding 1000°F, without damage.
  • Fabrics meeting military specifications of every description, including our proprietary, multi-coated material, 4034, which meets MIL-P-58102, Type II*. 4034 is a light weight (20 oz/ sq yd), high strength (311 lb x 255 lb breaking strength), flexible material with a polyester base fabric and two layers of polymer coating on each side, which was developed for use in storing or transporting equipment to which corrosion could prove ruinous. This material allows virtually no moisture to penetrate it*, ensuring that equipment (including, for example, military aircraft) can be stored in a wide range of climatic conditions without suffering the damaging effects of corrosion. It is also fire retardant, or self-extinguishing. We often combine covers made from this material with dessicants and humidity detection devices, along with our unique three-track zipper closure system, to provide additional safeguards against the potentially devastating corrosive effects of water vapor on valuable equipment and machinery.
  • Fastening systems of every description, manufactured from materials ranging from common polymers such as DelrinR to high-grade stainless steels. These fastening systems include buckles, snaps, zippers**, hook and loop (commonly known by the brand name VelcroR) and countless other tensioning, fastening and closure systems.

*MIL-P-58102, Type II mandates a maximum water vapor transmission rate of .08g/100 in2/24 hrs; Fabrico’s proprietary 4034 coated fabric is rated at .07g/100 in2/24 hrs. Thus, the maximum amount of water which could be expected to pass through the surface of a storage and shipping container for the rotor of an electric generator, approximately 30 feet long and with a diameter of 26” to 48” (roughly 360 square feet in total area), would be 36.3 grams, or about 1.23 fluid oz., per day. Dessicant pockets installed on the interior of the container easily absorb more than 99% of that amount, so the rotor is stored and shipped in an essentially moisture-free container.

**Fabrico’s unique three-track zipper system is used to create the closures for our ultra-low-humidity shipping and storage containers. The three-track zipper consists of a soft, malleable material, in a two-channel configuration, which forms an essentially air tight closure. See photographs below.