Flocking: Velvet Coating

Flocking is a unique technology that allows you to create a semblance of a textile coating on various surfaces, different hardness and shape. It has many advantages: such a coating has no seams or joints; increases noise thermal insulation; applied to various types of surfaces. Flocking can be either continuous or selective. It is possible to apply drawings and inscriptions to printing, textile products.

Flocking is the application of flock fibers in an electrostatic field to a previously prepared

the surface and the creation of an imitation of a textile coating on it. Flocking is a relatively new, but very promising developing technology. Flocking - Technology for a Thousand Applications!

Flocking is continuous and selective. Flock can cover any objects in shape, material, structure (flat and three-dimensional). With continuous flocking, the entire surface of the flocked object is completely covered with glue. With selective (or partial) flocking, only part (or parts) of the surface of the object is coated with glue using screen printing methods

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The main areas of application of the flock are decorative finishing and technological coating of surfaces. The velvet obtained by flocking is smooth, beautiful and durable. Flock can be applied to any material of any rigidity: plastic, metal, wood, glass, fabric, paper, and many others. A well-applied flock gives coatings, in addition to purely decorative properties, new functionality.

Thermal insulation

A two-millimeter flock can replace polystyrene with a thickness of 10 mm, therefore it is used where contact with a hot or very cold surface is possible (electric fireplaces, ski poles). Flock prevents the formation of condensate (air conditioning tubes flock).

Soundproofing

The average absorption of sound by a flocked surface is 13%, so the flock is widely used in the decoration of professional recording studios, music rooms, rooms for home cinemas, car interiors, speakers.

Mechanical strength

Thanks to the use of high-quality adhesives and flock, the surfaces treated with this material are highly resistant to various damages. The technology is used in the manufacture of floor coverings, guide profiles for car windows, shoe suede, all kinds of rugs in shops, car dealerships, and homes.

Light fastness

The flocked surface maintains color stability for 6-7 years.

Fire safety

Flock is a highly flammable material; the ignition temperature of various types of flock is 400-550 degrees;

Weather resistance

Flock, well preserving its properties under the influence of various weather conditions, is used as a protective coating against sticking of shells for the bottoms of yachts; Flock prevents the formation of condensate (air conditioning tubes flock).

Wear resistance

Flock is used for carpet linings, for covering threshold mats. The abrasion of the coating is negligible: after 10, 000 cycles of friction - only 23 mg (732 mg for felt). Chemical Resistance - The flocked surface is resistant to low solvents and is suitable for dry cleaning.

Compaction function

Flock is widely used for the manufacture of rubber, aluminum sealing profiles and for leveling tolerances.

Ease of care

It is washed and cleaned with ordinary detergents with preservation of the original properties, it is possible to clean using mild solvents (white spirit, gasoline).

Flock Protection

Many things require protection and careful handling (for example: the bottom of a ceramic ashtray on a varnished countertop). Flock can take care of this.

For flocking you will need:

- flocator

- flock

- glue

Types of flocators

Flocking equipment generates (generates) a high-voltage negative electrostatic field necessary for flocking. Flocators are manual type EASY SET and stationary type FS MAX. There are also specific lines for applying flock on the power unit ELEKTROSTAT ET 100 for example for the manufacture of flocked wallpapers (you can’t make other products on them). The advantage of manual flocculators is the almost unlimited ability to flock various types of surfaces from flat to 3D objects.

Types of flock

Flock is a fine pile resembling dust. In Russia, the range of flocks is represented by the Swiss brand SwissFlock (polyamide and viscose 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 1 mm and 2 mm long). Polyamide is a synthetics characterized by the highest resistance to mechanical stress, with hairs that are always in the perpendicular direction from the surface. Viscose is more gentle, less resistant to physical exertion.

Glue

Glue, or rather polymer, for flocking - Russian production. The AFA line is available for various works: both on hard surfaces (plastic, wood, metal, glass, etc.), and for screen printing on soft surfaces (fabric, paper, etc.). Inside the ruler is divided into subgroups. Application methods are different depending on the brand of glue: brush, roller, dipping, spraying, etc.