PVC Fabric Lab

The foundation of every inflatable boat

The tube fabric is the single most critical material in an inflatable boat. It must withstand constant UV exposure, repeated inflation cycles, abrasion against docks and debris, and extreme temperature swings —?all while maintaining its structural integrity for years. At Aquafarer, our PVC Fabric Lab is dedicated exclusively to the characterisation, validation, and continuous improvement of the fabrics we use in every boat we build.

We do not rely solely on supplier data sheets. Every batch of PVC and Hypalon fabric that enters our workshop is independently tested in-house. This guarantees that the material specification we publish is the material performance you receive —?lot after lot, year after year.

Standardised testing equipment

Our fabric lab is equipped with industrial-grade instruments that conform to ISO, ASTM, and EN test methods:

* All equipment is calibrated annually by third-party accredited laboratories.

From data to decision: a typical test workflow

When a new fabric candidate arrives, it follows a standardised seven-step qualification process:

1. Receipt inspection —?visual check for surface defects, pinholes, and dimensional compliance.
2. Thickness mapping —?20-point measurement across the roll; CV < 3% is required for acceptance.
3. Tensile testing —?5 specimens in warp and weft directions. Minimum 3500 N/50 mm for 1100 dtex PVC.
4. UV conditioning —?1000 h exposure in xenon-arc chamber; minimum 80 % strength retention required.
5. Cold crack —?4 h at -35 °C, then 180° bend over a 25 mm mandrel. No visible cracking.
6. Abrasion resistance —?1000 cycles, weight loss ≤ 0.05 g.
7. Approval sign-off —?only after all seven gates are passed is the fabric released for production.

Our professional team

The lab is staffed by two full-time material engineers, each holding a degree in polymer science or textile engineering with a minimum of six years of industry experience. They are supported by three technicians who perform day-to-day testing and data logging. The team regularly participates in inter-laboratory round-robin trials organised by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to validate the accuracy of our test methods.

Solving your toughest material challenges

Every marine environment is different. A patrol boat operating in the Persian Gulf faces vastly different UV and temperature conditions than a rescue craft in the North Sea. Our Fabric Lab helps you select —?or develop —?a fabric specification that is optimised for your operating profile.

Recent custom solutions include:

• A high-abrasion PVC blend for a military client whose boats regularly beach on coral reefs (+40 % abrasion life).
• A low-temperature Hypalon formulation for an Arctic research station, tested to -50 °C without embrittlement.
• A colour-stabilised orange fabric for a search-and-rescue fleet, maintaining visibility after 3 years of tropical sun exposure.

We do not sell "off-the-shelf" fabrics and hope they work. We test, validate, and recommend —?or create —?a tailored solution for your specific mission profile. That is the Aquafarer difference.

How we serve you

When you bring a material challenge to us, here is what you can expect:

1. Consultation —?we discuss your operating environment, performance targets, and budget.
2. Proposal —?a test plan is drafted with clear pass/fail criteria and a timeline.
3. Execution —?our lab runs the tests and produces a detailed report with raw data and comparative analysis.
4. Recommendation —?we present a fabric specification, including alternative options if multiple materials meet your requirements.
5. Follow-up —?after delivery, we remain available to support any in-service material questions.

Our goal is not simply to sell you a boat. It is to ensure that the boat you receive performs reliably in the conditions you operate in —?and that starts with the fabric.