Top Finish Systems
Shelter-Rite® Architectural Fabrics

Seaman Corporation offers three different top finish options on architectural fabrics. The use of top finish on a PVC coated polyester fabric is to improve the general appearance and cleanability of the material. The best top finish systems (such as Tedlar®) are essentially self-cleaning and can extend the life of the material by improving the UV resistance of the finished product.

What causes a structure to get dirty?

PVC coated fabric uses an exterior PVC coating compound that contains liquid plasticizers. These plasticizers are necessary in order to make the material flexible. Over time, small amounts of these plasticizers will migrate to the surface of the material. UV light, high temperatures and environmental pollutants accelerate this "plasticizer migration". As the plasticizers come to the surface the material becomes "sticky", causing dirt and airborne pollutants to be attracted to the material.

How does the top finish work?

Top finish systems are applied to PVC coated fabric to provide a thin barrier layer of material to the exterior surface. This barrier layer minimizes the placticizer migration and provides a hard surface that sheds dirt. The effectiveness and longevity of the top finish system depends on the chemical make-up of the top finish and the thickness of the barrier layer applied to the surface. Most solution coated top finishes are formulated using clear acrylic resins and are applied at a thickness ranging from .1 mil to .4 mil. Tedlar® film is bonded to the PVC coated material at a thickness ranging from 1.0 mil to 1.5 mil. Tedlar® has the added benefit of being a polyvinyl fluoride polymer that has anti-stick features of Teflon®.

Top Finish Options

TS-103: This is an acrylic/vinyl solution top finish that is formulated with a dulling agent added to provide a matte finish. TS-103 is applied as a single barrier layer and is the base top finish applied to all architectural fabrics unless another top finish is specified. TS-103 will minimize plasticizer migration and soiling.

TS-116/117 System: This top finish system is commonly referred to as our two-part acrylic/urethane top finish. This system is applied as two separate barrier layers. The first layer, TS-116, contains a polyurethane resin that provides improved weathering, abrasion resistance, and minimizes plasticizer migration. The second layer, TS-117, is an acrylic/vinyl solution top finish that imparts a hard top surface for improved cleanability. This top finish system yields a glossy appearance and provides much better resistance to dirt pick-up as compared to the TS-103 top finish.

TS-139: TS-139 is a liquid-applied acrylic top coat that offers a durable barrier against environmental attack, while minimizing the migration of plasticizers.  This acrylic is considered our premium liquid applied top coat and is often the second choice when the use of Tedlar is not practical.  TS 139 has been used extensively in many types of structures and has an excellent track record for protecting the integrity and appearance of the Shelter Rite architectural fabric.

TS-236: This top finish is a PVDF and a choice of many designers.  PVDF, like Acrylic, provides a durable, long lasting, seal for the Shelter Rite archtectural fabric.  TS 236 is applied as a single barrier and will minimize plasticizer migration.

Tedlar® PVF Film: Seaman Corporation has used Tedlar® PVF film as a top finish system for architectural fabrics for over 20 years. The Tedlar® PVF film is a minimum of 1.0 mil thick, and when bonded to the PVC coated fabric all but eliminates plasticizer migration. In addition, the Tedlar® PVF film is extremely chemical-resistant and has slip characteristics of Teflon®, making the system self-cleaning. Current Tedlar product offerings are all pigmented films that greatly improve the UV resistance of the finish material.

Tedlar products include:

• Milky White Tedlar® (MW Tedlar). This product provides the maximum light transmission and is greatly used in conjunction with DC-184 Translucent White PVC coated fabric.
• Bright White Tedlar® (BW Tedlar). This product offers moderate light transmission and can be used with all white PVC coated fabrics.
• Opaque White and Other Tedlar® Color Films. These films are available in designer colors but should be used only with opaque PVC coated fabric.
• Custom Colors Available.

For further information on Tedlar® PVF films used in architectural fabric applications, please refer to the DuPont™ product information and the comparative study.