Frequently Asked Questions

Curious about PolyCore’s coatings? Pondering about our products durability and performance? You’ll find all of the details here. If you can’t, you can always contact us and we’ll help you out.

 
 

General

What is PolyCore?

PolyCore creates waterborne polyurethane (PU) coatings that enhance textile performance: improving abrasion resistance, waterproofing, and sustainability. We partner with fabric mills and brands to develop high-performance, more sustainable materials for bags, packs, and luggage.

How is PolyCore different from traditional PU coatings?

Traditional PU coatings use solvents that release VOCs. PolyCore’s waterborne technology replaces those solvents with water, delivering the same performance with less environmental impact.
Benefits include:

  • Reduced VOC emissions

  • Safer production for workers

  • Comparable or better durability than solvent-based coatings

Which fabrics work best with PolyCore coatings?

Our coatings are compatible with most textiles used in bags, packs, and luggage, including polyester, nylon, and cotton. We prefer to work with recycled materials.

Where are your facilities located?

PolyCore’s lab and production is located in Taiwan, and our head office is in California. Our US team collaborates remotely.

Do you provide samples or testing?

Yes, we can provide samples of our stock materials. We can also create custom samples of your desired material and provide comprehensive test results for tear strength, abrasion resistance, hydrostatic resistance, and more.

Can PolyCore coatings be customized?

Yes. We develop custom formulations to meet specific brand or product goals, including texture, finish, waterproof rating, and durability.

How is Eco-Shield different from Eco-Coating?

Eco-Shield is the same water-based PU as Eco-Coating, however, we apply it to the face of the fabric instead of the back. It is also thicker and stiffer. The face-coated aesthetic makes it a great alternative to TPU, hypalon, PVC, and other materials.

How is ReCirX² different from your other coatings?

ReCirX² (pronounced Re Circ) is our PET-based coating. While PET is not commonly used for textile coatings due to its lower flexibility and limited modifiability compared to PU, it offers a key sustainability advantage. Polyester fabrics are also made from PET. This means the entire coated textile can be recycled through existing PET recycling streams at the end of its life, supporting a more circular material lifecycle.

Are your coatings water resistant?

Yes, our PU coatings can reach up to 10,000mm water resistance. PET can reach up to 3,000mm.

Are your coatings breathable?

No, the waterborne application process restricts the breathability of the coatings.

Are you coatings PFAS free?

Yes, we do not use any Per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances in our coating. We worked with OIA’s Clean Materials and Chemistry Coalition to ensure we have done the adequate testing to prove this.

Are your coatings bluesign certified?

All of our coatings adhere to the bluesign RSL, and our main components can be found on the bluesign FINDER positive chemicals list.

Can your coatings be applied at any facility?

Short answer: Yes

Long answer: Applying our coatings typically requires specialized training, and in some cases, the acquisition of new equipment. We are actively collaborating with several established textile mills to ensure they can apply PolyCore coatings to meet our performance standards. We are always open to collaborating with new supply chain partners as well.

Does PolyCore support co-branding or marketing?

Absolutely. We help brands communicate material innovation through:

  • Co-branded tags, patches, or hang labels

  • Technical storytelling support for product launches

  • Sustainability messaging that connects performance and responsibility

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