Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1993 17:12:44 -1000 From: rock@netcom.com (Anne Rock) Message-Id: Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services Subject: Fabric weight (Re: KITES-all kite rip offs must DIE) Jeffrey C. Burka (jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu) wrote: : In article dickbell@netcom.com (Dick Bell) writes: : >at 804-233-6155. There are at least three weights of Icarex. P-31 which is : >what we call .5 oz (it's really .7), P-38 which is what we call .75 oz (it's : >really .9) and then there's P-62 which is what we call 1.5 oz (and really is : >1.5...one color only..flor yellow) : I was under the impression that for a "named" weight (like 3/4oz) the : Icarex was lighter than nylon. Is that untrue, or does, say, 3/4oz nylon : weight > .9oz /yd? The quoted weight for ripstop fabric is usually for the uncoated fabric. So, depending on finishing, different 3/4 oz fabrics will actually have different final weights (for instance, a heavy urethane coating). Icarex is stronger than ripstop nylon of the same nominal weight (Into the Wind carries 1/2 oz Icarex and says it has the strength of 3/4 oz nylon, resists fading 5 times better than nylon and stretches half as much). Under the category of "I think this is true," my understanding of *most* polyester ripstops (I don't have brand name specifics) is that the fade resistance and lack of stretchiness comes from heavy applications of finishing chemicals, and as the finishing wears off, the bare fibers are *much* more susceptible to rapid UV degradation than bare ripstop, and probably stretch more, too. Anybody out there know if that's correct? Anne - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * | * * Anne Rock | Oh Lord, let the words I speak today * * rock@netcom.com | be sweet, for tomorrow I may have to * * Berkeley, CA | eat them. * * | - sign in a Honduran cafe * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =