CONTENT
1- FABRICS FOR INFLATABLE BOATS2- CSM* COATED FABRICS: PRODUCTCOMPOSITION.3- MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF FABRICS
4- DURABILITY OF FABRICS FORINFLATABLE
BOATS: PRINCIPAL CAUSES OF AGEING5- SUGGESTED USE OF FABRICS
6- COLOR CHART BY PRODUCT CODE
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Over the past 50 years, the inflatable boat has evolved from essentially a military vessel to aprimary choice of transportation for leisure boaters and professionals alike. This evolution
would not have been possible without a revolutionary improvement in materials and inflatable
boat design.There have been some spectacular advances in the construction of coated fabrics: for exam-ple, the development of such synthetic fibers as polyamide or polyester for increased strength
and durability.The coatings, which protect the textile and ensure air-tightness, have also seen equally sig-nificant advances: progressing from natural rubber (sensi-
tive to ageing) to synthetic Polychloroprene and
Chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubbers. These coatings are
now the industry standard for inflatables worldwide. PENNEL & FLIPO has been the industry LEADER in thedevelopment of these new coated fabrics, customized for
inflatable boats. There are three principles that drive this
development:
QUALITY - RELIABILITY - DURABILITY
The QUALITY is the result of Pennel’s continuous attention to the quality controls of its pro-ducts. Every linear meter of ORCA
® fabric has an embedded code, located on thePolychloroprene side, in order to ensure traceability. ORCA
® fabrics are recognized worldwideby such prestigious QUALITY organizations as RINA, MCA, Bureau Veritas.The RELIABILITY is achieved through the perfection of the multi-layer surfacing and the opti-mization of properties which result in ORCA
® fabric’s very high safety record in the field.The DURABILITY results from the mastery of the chemistry of polymers and their compo-nents. Special formulations of Chlorosulfonated polyethylene, developed by Pennel’s labora-
tory, give exceptional properties to the coating to endure attacks from external sources: UV,
heat, cold, hydrolysis, hydrocarbons and abrasion.
*CSM : chlorosulfonated Polyethylene