Form And Function
Several of our customers utlilise Dartex fabrics for RIM (Reaction Injection Moulding) moulding. Medical Support Systems (now Invacare) asked us to help develop a fabric so they could make a new concept hospital chair. A chair that was easy to clean, avoided any potential hidden sites for bacteria to grow (such as behind the seat cushion), was adjustable to minimise pressure risks and would help in getting patients to their feet.
To achieve their goals they wanted to utilise RIM processing with a Dartex fabric cover to avoid the negative issues commonly associated with a more traditional upholstery design. As the chair was to be used in a hospital MSS reasoned that the outer cover should be PU, but in reacting the foam to the interior substrate, it was discovered that the textile became impregnated with the foam making the seat cushions stiff. This led to a double coated textile product being utilised which had a requirement for high stretch so it would conform to the sculptured cushion design and low modulus so it would hold the shape indefinitely.