ProSoft® Stretch-FIT Waterproof 1 mil ECO-PUL™ Fabric (W-554)

Info

• 100% Free of PFOS, PFOA, lead, dioxins, heavy metals & BPA; Free from phthalates: contains no DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP and DnOP. Read Blog Article

• Soft & stretchy waterproof fabric created by laminating 1 mil PUL to ProCool® Stretch-FIT Sports Jersey.

• Made with Lycra, giving it a four-way stretch and recovery, for a tight hold and fit.

• CPSIA certified, meeting stringent standards by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission on lead and phthalates and flammability.

• Very durable, tested to withstand 300+ washings.

• 100% eco-friendly.

• Super soft, breathable and flexible.

• Unique process permanently melt-bonds our specially-treated TPU film to the fabric without toxic solvents. The process emits no toxic waste or VOCs that are harmful to the environment.

• The fabric is manufactured with no harmful chemicals or finishes in controlled conditions in American textile mills.

• This material can also prevent dust mites, since they are tiny but still physical.

Specs

Country of Origin: Made in USA
🇺🇸 Learn Why Oeko Tex Certification is NOT Relevant to American Made Fabrics

Manufacturer: AKAS Tex

Fabric Content: A proprietary blend of polyester, lycra spandex & polyurethane engineered for high performance
📚 Read about Fiber Content for Fabrics - Labeling Made Easy

Fabric Weight: 220 GSM / 6.5 ounces per square yard

Fabric Width: 57" - 59" wide / 145 cm - 150 cm wide

Fabric Thickness: 0.027 inch +/- 10%

Approx. Shrinkage (Length): Minimal
Approx. Shrinkage (Width): Minimal

Approx. Stretch (Length): 5%
Approx. Stretch (Width): 10%

UPF Rating: 50+
☀️ Read about UV Protection in Fabrics - Your Total UPF Rating Guide

Important Note about UPF Ratings:
Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) indicates how much UV radiation (both UVB and UVA) a fabric allows to reach your skin. For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 % of the sun’s rays and allows 2% (1/50th) to penetrate, thus reducing your exposure risk significantly. A UPF 30 fabric blocks 97% of UV rays and allows roughly 3% of UV transmission. UPF 15 indicates that the fabric blocks roughly 93% of UV rays and allows about 7% of available UV radiation to pass through.

UPF 10 to 30 = Fair Protection
UPF 30 to 50 = Good Protection
UPS 50+ = Excellent Protection

Quantity Information: Quantity = number of continuous yards., Orders of more than 10 yards may ship in more than 1 piece. If you would like a continuous piece, please leave a comment & we will try to accommodate your request., Seconds quality material may not ship in completed lengths. They may be in several cut pieces not less than 18" or so.

Care

Care Instructions: No prewash, Wash hot, Wash with like colors, Dry medium, No Fabric softener, Only non-chlorine bleach if needed, Warm iron if needed on fabric side
❗ Read about the 7 Reasons Your Fabric Could Break Down - Fabric Care Made Easy

💧 Apply Seam Sealing Tape (for light to medium weight PUL, ProCare or other polyurethane or vinyl coated fabrics) or Seam Sealing Tape Heavy Duty (for medium to heavy weight PUL (2-5 mil), ProCare HD or medium to heavy weight polyurethane or vinyl coated fabrics) over sewn seams of fabric to make them windproof/waterproof - NOT recommended to replace stitching.

Important Note about strong odors from PUL fabrics:
These fabrics are made on industrial machines; there are no chemicals used on them during manufacturing, but the lamination process in which the PU film is adhered to the base fabrics at a very high temperature produces an odor. The smell usually dissipates as it sits in our warehouse for a while, but our PULs sell out very fast, so there is rarely a chance for the manufacturing smell to air out. The odor diminishes over time, but washing and drying the fabrics will expedite the process. Run them through a quick wash & dry cycle to get rid of any odors.

Additional Care Instructions:

• Preparing your fabric: This fabric is delivered cut & sew ready, pre-washing is neither recommended nor required. If you must pre-wash your yardage, use a gentle cycle and hang dry to avoid wringing damage.

• Fabric sticking: This is a common problem with plasticized fabrics like PUL. It's best to use a Teflon foot, these are available at sewing stores for between $3 and $10 for most machines. If you can't get a teflon foot, you can try sewing through wax paper or daubing a tiny amount of sewing machine oil on your presser foot.

• Leaking after sewing: Make sure you use good quality polyester thread. Tex-27 or 65/2 grades are the best. Cotton or rayon threads should not be used in diapers as they naturally wick moisture. Also make sure you use BALL POINT NEEDLES! Remember, PUL is a knit, so like all knits use a ballpoint needle. Sharps (the kind you use for wovens and felts) will slice the yarns which will cause the holes around the threads to enlarge and leak.

• Need PUL for binding: You can make your own binding from PUL knits (instead of using FOE). Cut strips across the grain if you desire some stretch, and with the grain if you want to limit stretch. PUL is a knit base so you DO NOT cut it on the bias.

• Washing Instructions: It is recommended to use a zero residue detergent - liquid detergent preferably. Wash temperatures can be hot, between 145 and 165 degree F (65 to 75 degree C).
  DO NOT use bleach. If required non chlorine oxygenated bleach can be used sparingly, provided the detergent should not already contain sodium percarbonate (the active ingredient in many oxygenated bleaches). The detergent must also not contain any Fabric softeners, Natural oils, Perfumes, Dyes, UV brighteners, Stain guard ingredients, Enzymes.
  DO NOT add washing soda, soda ash or soda crystals to the detergent. The use of vinegar and/or baking soda can together or individually cause delamination.

• Rinsing Instructions: It is highly recommended to add an extra rinse cycle since even minute traces of detergent or other washing chemicals which may not have been washed out from the diaper/product made from the PUL are highly detrimental to the film and reduce the life of the laminate.

• Drying Instructions: Dry on medium heat, at a temperature not more than 130 degree F (50 degree C). Use of drying sheet with fabric softeners is not recommended. DO NOT wring or iron on the film side. Any urethane film is affected by bleach, chlorine and dry heat exceeding 130 degree F.
  Exposure to sunlight affects the urethane film. The film will turn yellow and crack over time. When the UV index is high this can happen in as little as 10 hours.