Microcapsules in Coated and Laminated Textiles

Coating and laminating are very exciting technologies with a myriad of possibilities [15]. The aim of coating or laminating a textile substrate with a polymer layer is to significantly influence its external characteristics and physical properties. Textiles coated with, or laminated, bonded with a continuous polymer layer acquire new properties that cannot be achieved by the base fabric alone. 

It is desirable from many aspects to examine those coatings in coated and laminated structures which are able to contribute to properties other than strength and barrier. The polymeric components in these structures could be provided with smart functions such as shape-memory and phase-change effects. During the past few years, some interesting developments have taken place with regard to smart 

These coated fabrics can be classified roughly into two main groups  

A coated or laminated material consists of two main components (i) the textile itself and (ii) the coating or laminate. The choice of both items has important consequences affecting the application procedures to be used and the final properties of the product. Both components must be carefully attuned to one another in combination with the coating or laminating technology. 

At the level of the compound (basic materials and additives), new or modified polymers and additives have recently been marketed. Although, in the past, few investigations have been conducted on the use of microcapsules in coating and laminating, these technologies are well suited for incorporation with these microcapsules. Consequently, in today s world efforts are very much speeded up at the research and development stage. 

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