STARCOAT Coating...Enhancing the Physical Properties of Fabric

STARCOAT Coatings are high quality, water based textile coating compounds. They are designed to be used as a back coating to fabrics, rendering them more functional. Typically, STARCOAT is used on nylon fabrics in various weights (200 – 1,000 Denier) for backpacks and duffle bags. These coatings primarily prevent the yarns from unravelling, add weight to the fabric, increase tensile and tear strength as well as hydrostatic pressure resistance.

Use of this type of coating makes the fabric more durable to abrasion, washing and drying. If needed, a coating can help make a fabric flame retardant. While making a fabric more durable and functional, a quality coating will also add aesthetics and value.

STARCOAT Coatings are engineered to meet military specifications. They are also formulated for light weight nylon or polyester fabrics used in the production of Coast Guard approved PFD’s (life jackets). These coatings are used to improve tear and tensile strength and seam slippage. Some of these are pigmented face coatings rather than clear back coatings. STARCOAT is available in various pigmented color face coatings for polyester/cotton fabrics used for boat accessories.

100% Water-Based Coatings

All STARCOAT products are 100% water based, containing high quality polyurethane and acrylic emulsions. Unlike solvent based competing products, STARCOAT compounds contain virtually no volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). These products are primarily based on specialty acrylic emulsions, often blended with polyurethane dispersions. Advances in the chemistry of acrylics and polyurethane dispersions make it possible to meet or exceed the performance of solvent based urethanes.

Acrylic and Urethane Polymers as Building Blocks

Olympic utilizes a wide variety of acrylic emulsions and polyurethane dispersions with very specific properties to meet the end user’s requirements. STARCOAT uses the finest polymers available to insure water and chemical resistance and enhance durability. The majority of polymer emulsions used in STARCOAT Coatings are custom manufactured to meet customer specifications. This enables better control of coating compounds and insures that Olympic customers’ requirements are consistently met. All polymers are non-yellowing under high temperature and are UV resistant. Drawing on a variety of various polymers provides a wide range of coating types; from a very soft hand coating typically used for base coat, to a very hard polymer more suitable for a top coat.

Why Use STARCOAT?

Virtually No Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)

No smoke
No pollution
No hazardous emissions, eliminating scrubber incineration

Enhanced Productivity

Increased line speed yields more production, 2-3 times faster than solvent lines

Superior Performance

Excellent adhesion, abrasion resistance, hydrostatic resistance, wash fastness, dry cleaning and chemical resistance, non-yellowing and UV resistance
Meets or exceeds performance requirements of solvent based urethane coatings

Applications and Features

The compounds are usually knife coated on the back of fabrics. Some fabrics require only one coat; but there are also systems where up to four coats are applied. After the coating application, the fabric is oven dried and cured to ensure proper fixation. This provides maximum durability of the coated fabric. Our coating compounds are produced and reproduced to meet stringent solids, pH, viscosity, density and color specifications among others.

Product Characteristics

Very high solids content, yielding high coating weight with fewer coats
No solvent, extremely low (near zero) VOC and formaldehyde content
Custom formulations designed to meet your requirements
Excellent performance, strength and durability
Clear, opaque, white or pigmented shades