What can Flock do?

In addition to the well-known properties such as the optical refinement and the improvement of the haptics, flock can do much more. Flock is used in a wide variety of industries, primarily to solve technical problems such as noise reduction, sliding properties and surface enlargement.

Due to the nature of its fibres and the innovative flocking process, flock can create an anti-slip effect, damping effect and improved adhesion and offers increased abrasion resistance. It is also used for sealing, noise protection, insulation and tolerance compensation. Flock can also contribute to the suppression of stray light or prevention of reflection, as well as increased value. Furthermore, flock serves for heat distribution, scratch protection, breath activation, absorbency as well as the prevention of condensation.

How can lubricity be increased or minimized?

By flock - Friction occurs when two objects have different surface properties.

The example of rubber and glass shows that rubber has a very rough surface texture and glass a very smooth one. Due to this, frictional forces arise, the so-called static and sliding friction. The flock fibers serve to minimize the friction, since their surface properties in combination with glass or other smooth surfaces have a higher sliding ability.

This is due to the individual flock fibres, which form a sliding film when they rub against rough surfaces.

This phenomenon can occur in your own household when moving furniture. If you move a wooden cabinet on a tiled floor or similar, friction is created, this can be reduced by applying felt adhesives or flocked pieces of foil, which reduce the friction and thus increase the sliding ability.

This is also the reason for the minimization of the sliding ability or the increase of the friction in connection with rough or rubbery surfaces, which results in a so-called anti-slip effect.

 

Application examples: Automotive, Building Materials, Clothes Hangers, Furniture & Furnishings, Transportation, Cleaning.

How can noise be insulated or prevented?

By flock - The sound-absorbing effect is due to the multiple breaking of the sound waves by the flocking structure. This is due to the fact that the flock fibres swallow airborne and structure-borne sound as so-called discontinuities. The fibres absorb the sound through their surface properties and the cavities between the fibres.

This is reflected in everyday life in the impact sound or room sound insulation.

 

Application examples: Automotive, Building Materials, Furniture & Furnishings, Toys & Model Making, Sound

How can tolerances be compensated and sealed?

 

By flock - The flock fibers on the surface of the substrate act as gap fillers. Due to their perpendicular orientation on the substrate, the small fibers can efficiently bridge small gaps by bending and filling the gap between the materials like a spring. In addition to compensating for gaps, this also avoids unnecessary rattling.

 

Application examples: Automotive, building materials, furniture & furnishings, transportation, porcelain, connectors, slide rails.

How can stray light be prevented?

 

By flock - The flocked fiber structure has a dampening effect by breaking the light waves many times. This is due to the large amount of incorporated fibers on the flocked surface. Due to their nature, these cannot reflect light waves and thus stray light can be minimized.

 

Application examples: Automotive, Textile & Fashion, Furniture & Furnishings, Packaging, Art, Tuning, Light Signs & Billboards, Telescopes & Optics.

How can a filter effect be achieved?

 

By flock - Depending on the selection of fiber length and diameter, flock can achieve a filter effect that can be used in different ways. The longer the fiber, the greater the distance between the individual fibers on the flocked surface. These distances can then be used as a filter for bacteria or dirt.

The shorter the fiber, the smaller the spacing and the flock surface forms a cushion that repels even the smallest particles.

 

Application examples: Automotive, paint rollers, medicine, cosmetics, cleaning.

How can the haptics be improved?

 

By flock - The vertically aligned flock fibres form a surface texture that turns out soft or hard depending on the flock fibre used, fibre length and diameter (the smaller the diameter and the longer the fibre, the softer and vice versa). This is mainly used for products that later come into contact with skin, body or other sensitive surfaces. But also for door mats and floor mats where a rougher surface is desired, whereby a filter effect can be achieved.

 

Application examples: Automotive, paint rollers, tools, textile & fashion, cosmetics, furniture & furnishings, toys, paper.

How can the aesthetics be improved or the appearance refined?

 

By flock - Flocking a surface can improve the value and aesthetics as well as refine objects. Thereby one has the choice between the individual flock fibre parameters depending on the desired surface texture and colour and additional function.

 

Application examples: Automotive, Building Materials, Textile & Fashion, Furniture & Furnishing, Tuning, Packaging, Paper, Decoration

How can a lotus effect be achieved?

 

By flock - Due to short flock fibres, the distances between the fibres become smaller. This can provide a lotose effect similar to the filter effect. Since the structure is so small porous that liquids roll off the surface and at the same time dirt particles are minimized.

This is comparable to the wax layer that is applied when cleaning a car.

 

Application examples: Automotive, boating and shipping, building materials, cleaning

How can the formation of condensation be prevented?

 

By flock - Condensation occurs as soon as air containing water vapour cools below the dew point. In other words, as soon as warm and humid air meets a cold surface.

The formation of condensation can be prevented by flock, because the vertically anchored flock fibers have air cushions. This cushion between the warm air and the cold object prevents fogging.

 

Application examples: Automotive, building materials, tents, awnings

How can a surface be enlarged?

By flock - The free space between the flock fibres can be used as a depot. The large number and vertical orientation of the fibers and their structure ensure that the surface of the substrate is enlarged during application. This is mainly used in the production of paint rollers or cosmetic and medical applicators.

Application examples: Painting rollers, medicine, cosmetics, heat exchangers

How to isolate?

 

By flock - As already explained, the incorporated flock covers only about 10 % of the flocked surface. The calmed air between the fibers, or in the cavities, causes an insulating effect, since air is bound in a very small space and this is a poor conductor of heat. Thus, heat is retained within a flocked object. In addition, the insulating effect of the flock shifts the dew point and prevents condensation.

The flock fibres as insulation are comparable with mineral insulation wool in the field of building materials, which ensures that walls or houses are thermally insulated.

 

Application examples:

Automotive, building materials, tools, porcelain, sauna, hair styling appliances

How can an improved cleaning function be achieved?

 

By flock - Friction between the flocked surface of the substrate and another object can generate an electrostatic charge. This assists in cleaning due to the attraction that acts on other objects.

This effect is similar to the friction of a balloon on hair, which is then electrostatically attracted to the balloon.

 

Application examples: Cleaning

How to protect a surface from scratches?

 

By flock - The flock fibres in combination with the adhesive form a solid layer over the substrate and thus protect it from environmental influences such as sharp objects or similar. This property can be compared in everyday life with carpets on parquet floors which creates a protective layer between the sensitive wooden floor and the piece of furniture. Thus, this is protected from scratches or abrasion.

 

Application examples: Building Materials, Furniture & Furnishings, Porcelain, Tuning, Tools

How can the water resistance be reduced?

 

By flock - Similar to the golf ball effect, flock can ensure that resistances are minimized. The smaller the flock fiber, the smaller the spacing between the fibers, the more optimized the surface finish of the flocked substrate.

 

Taking the example of a boat hull, flocking is used to provide resistance to algae and other deposits and antifouling and to improve the boat's ability to glide in the water.

The air cushions between the flock fibres reduce the friction between the hull and the water, provide less resistance as well as better glide and thus permanently lower fuel consumption.

 

Application examples: Boat & marine, underwater construction, jet skis, aircraft, gliders.

How can the abrasion resistance be increased?

 

By flock - In combination with the adhesive, the flock fibres form a solid layer over the substrate. The fibers anchored in the adhesive are extremely robust and straighten up again after contact with other objects. This function of the flock is used for transport rollers or suitcase shells.

 

Application examples: Automotive, Furniture & Furnishings, Boating & Shipping.

How can vibrations be reduced?

 

By flock - The effect that is to be achieved with the vibration reduction by the flock is similar to the tolerance compensation. The fine fibers on the surface of the flocked substrate have a damping effect like small springs that swallow vibrations.

 

Application examples: Automotive, production machines, household appliances

How can a breathing effect be achieved?

 

By flock - When flocking shoes or gloves, for example, the flock can provide a breathing effect. The greater the distance between the fibres, the more breathable the substrate material. Thus, odors and condensation, in the form of sweat, can be avoided or minimized.

 

Application examples: Textile & Fashion, Furniture & Furnishing