Coating & Laminating

Coating is a technique by which a formulation paste is applied onto a substrate by means of a knife; it is used to functionalise textiles and to create sophisticated and innovative textiles. The formulation paste usually consists of a binder and functional additives.

• simple and widely used process
• introduction of barrier properties and/or novel functionalities to textiles
• evaluation of novel binder systems

Coating application techniques

• knife over roll, knife in air, transfer coating
• thermal or IR drying, UV curing
• A4-size (Mathis labcoater): aqueous, solvent-based, 100% or high solid systems
• roll-to-roll system (0.5 m width, Matex): aqueous or 100% systems

The K303 Multicoater from RK Instruments is an advanced device that allows us to perform high-quality tests with flexography and rotogravure inks on a variety of flexible materials, such as textiles, paper and plastic films. Thanks to the integrated bar coating module, we can also apply coatings in weights from 30 to as little as 4 g/m².

This is possible on both flexible and rigid substrates, making the device particularly versatile.

Hotmelt coating is the application of a layer to a substrate by pre-melting the desired material and then allowing the material to cool, solidifying the layer.

Hotmelts are 100% polymers containing neither water nor organic solvents. The application of hotmelts in coating and lamination is hence very economical: drying/curing in an oven is not required in contrast to conventional coating pastes based on water or solvents.

Hotmelts are melted and applied onto textiles or other substrates. There are two types of hotmelt polymers - thermoplastic polymers and reactive polymers - requiring different curing methods: thermoplastic polymers are cured by cooling, whereas reactive polymers need a reaction with e.g. moisture in order to be cured.

A laminated textile is composed of two or more layers, at least one of which is a textile fabric, bonded closely together by means of an added adhesive, or by the adhesive properties of one or more of the component layers.  

• easy and widespread process
• applicable to multiple types of substrates: textiles, films, membranes, foils…

Textile laminating application techniques

• focus on wet lamination
• production of A4-samples on Mathis labcoater
• roll-to-roll applications on Matex semi-industrial line (0.5 m)

During the co-extrusion process two or more materials are extruded through a single die so that materials merge or weld together into a single structure before cooling.

The cast film or co-extrusion line of Centexbel (installed in Kortrijk) is suitable for freestanding film extrusion and lamination on various substrates.

• The line is equipped with three metering units connected to three single-screw extruders.
• These individual extruders can be connected to a single feed block.
• The unique combination of this feed block allows the polymer mass from the three extruders to be processed into one multilayer film.
• The extruded film can be processed as a single film or laminated onto a selected substrate.
• The laminated substrate or extruded film is then calendered with stainless steel cooling rollers and dried at ambient conditions before final winding.
• Upon request, the laminated substrate or film can be cut to a specific size.

The Centexbel platform is equipped with different modules for yarn and multifilament coating that can be dynamically combined:

• yarn winder
• corona treatment unit
• UV curing
• IR oven
• conventional ovens
• dipping appliance
• dynamic nozzle systems