Velcro
Description
[Velcro USA Inc.] A registered trademark for a reclosable fastener system patented in 1948 by George de Mestra, a Swiss inventor (patent expired in 1978). Velcro is a two-component resin nylon system in which one component has hooks and the other has loops. When pressed together, the Velcro hooks firmly grasp the loops. The two components may be separated by pulling. Velcro produces two types of hook systems: flexible and molded. The flexible woven hooks provide maximum cycle life while the molded hooks provide maximum fastening strength with limited cyclability. Velcro fasteners work effectively in temperatures ranging from -56C (-70F) to 93C (200F). The fasteners may be attached to substrates by sewing, heat sealing or pressure sensitive adhesives. Factory applied pressure-sensitive adhesives can be adhesive acrylic, cement rubber, or polyurethane based materials.
Hazards and Safety
Nylon becomes brittle when exposed to extremely cold temperatures or ultraviolet light.
Additional Information
Velcro: Website K.Leath, M.Brooks "Velcro and other Hook and Loop Fasteners: A Preliminary Study of Their Stability and Ageing Characteristics", TCN p.5-11
Authority
- Hermann Kuhn, Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986
- Caring for your Collections, Arthur W Schulz (ed.), Harry N. Abrams, Inc. , New York, 1992
- Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles, Phyllis G.Tortora, Robert S. Merkel (eds.), Fairchild Publications, New York City, 7th edition, 1996
- Meredith Montague, Meredith Montague, contributed information, 1998
- Teri Hensick, Teri Hensick, contributed information, 1998
- Website address 1, Website address 1 Comment: www.hants.org.uk/museums/ofr/cmeth_t.html
- Website address 2 Comment: AMOL reCollections Glossary at http://amol.org.au/recollections/7/c/htm