Reusable packaging materials include brushed tricot fabric for sewn fabric dunnage. Brushed tricot is a soft, liner material that can be used with Class A surfaces such as chrome parts or faux wood panels. This packaging material offers numerous advantages, but the brushing process makes tricot prone to attracting dirt. If parts with Class A surfaces become scratched, assemblers may reject them because even shallow grooves can affect part fit and function.
Brushed Tricot Basics
Brushing is a finishing process raises the fibers in fabrics. When tricot fabric is brushed, the material acquires a distinctive look and feel. The front of the fabric has vertical ribs, but the back has horizontal ribs. This appearance is a function of how the manufacturing processes stretches long parallel threads and then loops the adjacent threads around these parallel threads.
Brushed fabrics have a softer feel because raising a nap produces a fuzzy or down surface. Tricot fabrics that are brushed are also easy-to-produce and relatively inexpensive. These reusable packaging materials offer good elasticity and resist creasing, too. Typically, brushed tricot fabrics are made of synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester. Natural fibers such as cotton can be used, but they’re usually blended with synthetic fibers that impart material properties.
Brushed Tricot Costs
Brushed tricot fabrics are soft and cost-effective, but these reusable packaging materials may also require frequent cleaning. Ultimately, the same finishing process that imparts their softer feel also makes them a “dirt magnet”. During the brushing process, hair-like fibers are pulled so that they stick out. In turn, these hairs tend to pick up more dirt. Brushed tricot fabrics are permeable and support cleaning, but packaging engineers should include cleaning costs in their total cost of ownership (TCO) calculations.
Learn More About Reusable Packaging Materials
Do you have questions about brushed tricot and other reusable packaging materials? Hold-True provides sewn fabric solutions for the automotive, heavy truck, power sports, and aerospace industries. In addition to expert sewing, we offer design assistance and help with material selection. To learn how we can help you, contact us.