Cordura fabric - what is it: description, characteristics, types and applications

Often, when they want to emphasize the exceptional quality of a fabric, they point to the natural wool, cotton, linen or silk included in its composition. But there is a material unsurpassed in its qualities, whose exclusivity lies in the synthetic nylon fibers themselves, produced by the Dupont trademark, in its specific impregnation and in the special weave of the threads.

The products of the world-famous CORDURA® brand were originally intended for the needs of the American army, but thanks to their properties, they were successfully integrated into many areas of life and everyday life.

History and production

Cordura fabric is known for being wear-resistant and resistant to mechanical damage. The tensile strength is high, which ensures popularity and a wide range of applications.

The material owes its appearance to experiments on the synthesis of nylon conducted by the American chemist Carother at the beginning of the twentieth century. The creation of the fabric was initiated by Dupont. The first samples, which passed a series of tests, were used for the manufacture of army ammunition.

The Cordura® brand has gained worldwide fame and, thanks to its high wear resistance, has found application in many areas. The trademark owner has licensed the INVISTA manufacturing technology.

The first samples of the material appeared in 1929. In 1966–67, Nylon66 fibers began to be used in technology, and since 1977, manufacturers began producing color samples. In 1980, mixed types with cotton appeared. During the same time period, the company presented Cordura Plus 500 and 1000 Denier fabrics, intended for sewing clothes.

History of Cordura fabric

The creation of a super-strong material began in 1935 by a team of specialists from the famous Du Pont company, engaged in research in the field of chemistry; The group was led by scientist-inventor Wallace Carotrez. As a result of experiments with coal tar, alcohol, water and high temperatures, researchers obtained a completely new fiber: extremely strong, transparent, similar to silk in some parameters, and called it NYlon. By the way, the first capital letters are nothing more than the abbreviation of the city of New York.

The next step was the development of a thread based on the invented fibers: twisted into a kind of “rope” to increase strength. The thread, in turn, was called Cordura, from the English “cord, rope.” And finally, the fabric woven from this thread also began to be called “cordura”.

But another American company, Invista, began producing the material - simply by purchasing a patent from Du Pont. But this is not the end of the chain! Invista is owned by Koch Industries, the second-largest private company in the United States by revenue. This is a non-public family business, shares are not sold on the stock exchange, and at most are exchanged privately. Why know all of the above if you are interested in Cordura material? Then, to understand the quality level of genuine branded products.

In reality, Cordura is not a type of fabric, but a trademark, one of those proper names that have become household names. The same company Invista also owns another similar “registered” trademark: Lycra – the well-known lycra, an elastomer thread that made it possible to sew tight-fitting clothes in the “second skin” format.

Description

Cordura is a dense nylon fabric with a smooth surface, water-repellent properties, light and flexible. The material is stain resistant and easy to maintain. The name comes from the English “cord”, which means “cord”, “rope”. In appearance, the structure resembles an interweaving of thick strands.

Textiles are made using a patented technology by weaving from polyamide threads cut and twisted in a special way. At the final stage, the textiles undergo multi-stage impregnation to impart water-repellent properties.

The classic type of cordura is made from nylon (polyamide fiber) from Dupont, which is characterized by increased strength. Some manufacturers add up to 10% cotton to the composition. The surface of mixed types of cordura acquires a weak hairiness, and wear resistance increases.

The production technology provided the material with strength 4 times higher than that of other polyamide fabrics. Textiles are resistant to UV rays, chemical reagents, and non-flammable. The high strength of Cordura does not reduce its elasticity. Fabric products hold their shape well.

Unique material properties

• 
  Ultra-reliable at tensile loads - up to four times greater than the closest material in terms of characteristics.

• Resistance to wear and abrasion - according to the Stoll test, fabric can be sanded seven and a half thousand times before it breaks.
• Resistance to fire - cordura begins to melt at +245Cº, does not support combustion, and has a self-extinguishing property.
• Resistance to chemicals, high and low temperatures.
• Excellent water resistance - more than 5000 mm water column, a very extraordinary indicator.

Plus, this type of fabric does not wrinkle, is cut without fraying the edges of the cut, stitches well, and “holds” the eyelets perfectly. The polyurethane coating does not allow the formation of puffs, hooks, or pellets on the surface of the material; Due to the peculiarities of weaving, cordura is beautifully dyed and printed.

So does Cordura have any negative properties at all? From a traditional point of view, yes: in severe frost, the material can “stand up like a stake”; after a long stay in direct sunlight, it loses some of its useful characteristics, and rustles quite a lot when the fabric parts rub against each other. A jacket or bag made of cordura will weigh quite a lot, but in terms of resistance to external influences it will have no equal.

This fact determines the scope of application: where strength, reliability, the ability to withstand large mechanical loads, repel water, and protect from aggressive environments are a priority over lightness or elasticity.

Characteristics

The technical properties of synthetic cordura fabric are given in the table:

Kinds

Among synthetic materials, this textile is the most variable in terms of density and scope of application. Common types of Cordura:

1. Standard – 1000 – 140 – T440. The material has a density of 1000d.
2. Cordura Plus 500 – 140 – T440 of lower density (500d) while maintaining the properties of the standard sample.
3. Plus 300 – 122 – T440 is used in mixed versions.
4. Cordura Plus Natural. Due to the increased cotton content in the composition, it has improved tactile properties and has more weight in contrast to standard samples.
5. Cordura Plus Lycra is a fabric with increased elasticity.
6. ColorLock - characterized by color fastness.
7. KP Taslan is produced in combination with insulation for the manufacture of clothing used in cold weather.
8. Supplex CP is breathable and dries quickly.
9. Cordura AFT fabric is a group of fabrics with optimal air exchange.

There are a total of 16 types of textiles in the group.

Advantages and disadvantages

Synthetic fabric does not irritate the skin and demonstrates good vapor permeability. But in hot weather, clothes made of cordura are uncomfortable.

The advantages of the canvas include the following properties:

• ability to repel dirt;
• waterproof due to special impregnation;
• wear resistance and tensile strength;
• fire resistance (fabric begins to melt at temperatures above 200 degrees);
• allows air to pass through;
• retains shape in products;
• resistance to high temperatures and UV rays;
• durability;
• convenient to cut and sew (cuts do not fray);
• ease of care.

Among the disadvantages of the fabric, the following should be noted:

• becomes stiff in the cold;
• presence of characteristic noise during movement (friction);
• takes a long time to dry;
• high price of material.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages and disadvantages of cordura fabric are determined by the composition of the material and its production technology.

Advantages:

• weight and strength are in ideal proportion;
• increased resistance to chemicals;
• even after prolonged active use, pellets and snags do not appear;
• practically not deformed;
• the coloring is very durable;
• does not fray when cutting;
• has heat resistance;
• has an attractive appearance and a wide range of products;
• unpretentious in care.

Flaws:

• at low temperatures it becomes very hard;
• with prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays, it loses its positive properties;
• rubbing parts may make noise while moving;
• special impregnation ensures resistance to moisture, but if the cordura gets wet, it will take a very long time to dry;
• quite heavy;
• expensive.

Advice! Cordura is ideal for conditions where high strength and wear resistance are required. For hunting and long hiking trips, it is better to choose equipment made from other fabrics, since cordura can make noise when moving and weighs a lot.

Application of fabric

Initially, Cordura was used for the needs of the army. The strength and wear resistance of the material have provided it with a range of applications in other areas. Various products are sewn from this textile:

• military uniforms and accessories (cases, backpacks, pads for tactical accessories, waterproof awnings and tents);
• workwear for construction workers;
• jackets, raincoats, tents, awnings for fishermen, hunters, tourists;
• warm overalls and jackets made of cordura plus taslan;
• equipment for extreme sports;
• bags and backpacks;
• details for car seat decoration;
• upper part of shoes;
• motorcycle equipment (pants, motorcycle jackets, jeans and inserts for them, backpacks);
• special purpose work suits.

Sublimated printing is applied to the fabric. Cordura is combined with tarpaulin, thick canvas, leather and suede.

Application area

Cordura is now used in many industries that require durable, wear-resistant clothing, ammunition, and covers.

It is used when sewing:

• uniforms for the military;
• work clothes for workers;
• uniforms and equipment for extreme sports and entertainment;
• backpacks and bags;
• sewn-on knee pads and elbow pads for children's items;
• parts for vehicle seat covers;
• tents, camping furniture.

Analogs

The popularity of the Cordura ® brand determined the attempts of textile manufacturers to create a material that is not inferior in strength and basic properties. Cordura analogues are inferior to it in density:

1. Oxford. The production technology of polyamide fabric uses a similar type of fiber weaving. Material with a smooth shiny surface, without combing. The density of Oxford fabric ranges from 210d to 600d. Durable fabric among the varieties of textiles is demonstrated by fabric made of thick threads (900d). The water resistance of some samples is achieved by using polyurethane impregnation (coating);
2. An affordable Korean analogue is kodra. Used for sewing backpacks, equipment and sports bags. The American brand is inferior in strength and density.
3. Maxped is the analogue closest in properties to the original with a thick layer of PU coating.

Important! The original cordura fabric has a slight roughness on the back side, and a slight shine on the front side. Does not wrinkle, keeps its shape. Products made from it are accompanied by a brand label. Cordura cannot be cheap and is not sold at retail.

How to spot a fake

The complexity of the production procedure and the high price mean that Cordura is sold exclusively in bulk. When submitting an application, you must fill out a form indicating the name of the customer, color and type of fabric. As well as the number of products planned for production from the batch.

This is explained by the fact that a branded label with the inscription “Cordura” is sent to each unit of the product. If there is no label, the product is not made of Cordura. Often, a fake label is sewn onto non-original material, so when purchasing, be guided by the appearance of the fabric.

Signs of original Cordura:

1. The front side is shiny, the back side is rough and matte.
2. The polyamide film on the surface of the fabric is difficult to see. On fake material, the delamination of the polyamide coating is clearly noticeable. When used in unfavorable conditions, the film comes off.

Care

It is difficult to stain a cordura product: the fabric repels dirt. You can clean it with a damp cloth. If desired, different types of washing are acceptable: manually or in a machine.

It is recommended to wash at room temperature. Chlorine-containing bleaches should not be used as detergents.

Spinning is not recommended. In exceptional cases, for example, when washing bulky items, for example, use the machine method at low drum speeds.

Products should be dried flat on a horizontal surface away from heating devices. Direct exposure to sunlight is undesirable.

Cordura products hold their shape and are resistant to deformation. No ironing required.

How to care

An undeniable advantage of Cordura is its ease of care. In the vast majority of cases, simply wiping with a soft, damp cloth is enough to remove dirt.

After repeated washing in an automatic washing machine, the characteristics of the material do not deteriorate.

Advice! Drying takes a very long time. However, in order to speed up the process, you should not dry the cordura in direct sunlight.

There is no need to iron the material, as it practically does not wrinkle. The soleplate of the iron, heated to 200° C, cannot harm the material (the melting point of cordura starts at +210°).