The Benefits of Solution-Dyed Compared to Piece-Dyed
Manufacturing Performance
The high level of consistency in the product reduces costly downtime and quality rejections at the cut-and-sew facility.
Fabric variation and lot to lot color, shade, and NIR inconsistencies can lead to costly downtime and quality rejections at the cut-and-sew facility.
Characteristics Process |
Solution-Dyed, Textured Nylon Fabric is woven from color-permeated solution-dyed nylon yarns which are spun to include inherent shade and NIR properties. |
Piece-Dyed, Multi-Filament Fabric is woven from natural colored nylon, and then dyed to provide shade and NIR properties. |
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Product Performance |
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1. Shade appearance |
Consistent color across the width of the fabric. |
Dye streaks which show across the width of the fabric, thus inconsistent color. |
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2. Fabric to fabric consistency |
Uniform shade appearance regardless of mil-spec or weave pattern. |
Shade variation between various mil-specs and weave patterns. |
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3. Level of Shine |
Dull, matte finish of CORDURA® solid-color yarn reduces the un-wanted shine that can attract the attention of snipers. |
Inherent nature of the fiber and the dyeing process create high levels of shine, which are potentially dangerous in a battlefield setting. |
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4. Durability |
Manufactured from air-textured CORDURA® yarn, the industry standard for durability and abrasion-resistance. |
Non-textured yarn provides less durability and less resistance to abrasion. |
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5. NIR consistency |
Because the NIR properties are inherently built into the yarn, infra-red requirements are met every time with little or no variability. |
The NIR properties, which are a function of the dye process, are subject to variability as the shade changes from dye lot to dye lot. |
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6. UV fade |
Highly resistant to UV fade and shade changes when in the field. |
Shade changes and fading when subject to high levels of UV exposure. |
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7. Colorfastness |
The best colorfastness in the industry, routinely achieving the highest test rating of “5″. |
The dye process, particularly for darker colors, often yields lower colorfastness testing results. |
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8. Compatibility with Fabric |
Because many of the fabrics used to make military gear are woven from the same solution dyed-yarns used in the solution-dyed fabric, the fabric provides an exact shade match and creates an end item unparalleled for shade consistency. |
Piece-dyed fabric and fabrics, coming from different dyehouses, will often not match, and create an end item that is often not consistent with the solution-dyed fabric used on the military items. |