A Vacuum-Forming Process for Manufacturing Weapon Accessories from Coated Fabrics.
Abstract
Selected vacuum-forming techniques were used to fabricate test parts from coated fabrics. A technique in which a secondary ring-die approach is used was successful in eliminating fabrication problems such as webbing, nonuniform wall thickness and material thinout or deterioration. Elastic knit or heat-stretchable woven substrates coated with polyether urethane or ethylene vinyl acetate were acceptable materials for the fabricating of test parts. The coated nonwoven substrates evaluated could not be vacuum-formed because of low-stretch characteristics. Materials successfully vacuum-formed did not meet strength requirements of MIL-C-20696, 'Cloth, Coated, Nylon, Waterproof'. Heavier materials that met strength requirements were only partially vacuum-formable with the use of laboratory equipment. These materials could potentially be completely molded by production scale vacuum formers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- ADA013860
Entities
People
- Thomas J. Koehler