Velcro
Description
[Velcro USA Inc.] A registered trademark for a reclosable fastener system first patented in 1952 (U.S.) by George de Mestra, a Swiss inventor (patent expired in 1978). Velcro® is a two-component 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 acrylic, rubber, or Polyurethane based materials.
Hazards and Safety
Nylon becomes brittle when exposed to extremely cold temperatures or ultraviolet light. Any pressure sensitive adhesive should be pH neutral and may fail over time.
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
Sources Checked for Data in Record
- Rachael Perkins Arenstein, Lisa Goldberg, and Eugenie Milroy, ‘Support and Rehousing for Collection Storage’ In ‘Preventive Conservation: Collection Storage’ Lisa Elkin and Christopher A. Norris (eds.), Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, New York. 2019.
- 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, contributed information, 1998
- Teri Hensick, contributed information, 1998
- 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