Teach you to install watertight zippers

Compared to other zippers, the methods required to install air / watertight zippers are different. The installation method for air and watertight zippers depends on the tape material to which the zippers are to be installed. Usually we can use four different installation methods.

Sewing

Sewing is the most common method of attaching zippers. However, there are other things you should consider when sewing airtight / watertight zippers.

To maintain air tightness, the stitching must be covered with a compatible coating. This can usually be achieved by covering the seam seams with sealing tape to prevent liquid or air leakage. Therefore, this process is often referred to as "seam seal".

2. Glue

Adhesive installation of metal air / watertight zippers is particularly common. Here, the zipper is glued to the tape material with a compatible adhesive. Therefore, the main consideration here is to choose the right adhesive based on the substrate and tape.

For example, chloroprene-based adhesives are commonly used in chloroprene tapes, and especially when chloroprene rubber, fabrics are also chloroprene-based. The adhesive used on PVC tape or polyurethane tape will vary. Your choice of fabric will also determine compatible adhesive choices. Therefore, it is recommended to test the compatibility of adhesives with zippers, fabric materials and tape materials.

3. Radio frequency (RF) welding

Using RF welding, similar polymer materials can be welded together by radio waves. As mentioned earlier, this method can only be used with PVC and polyurethane zippers.

The main consideration for this method is how to set up your RF machine. You will need different settings when working with different types of materials or thicknesses. The zipper is welded to the inside of the fabric material, and the seams are sealed to the surrounding edges.

4. Hot air welding

We have discussed a process similar to RF welding above. But instead of using radio frequency, we use hot compressed air to weld the materials together. In some cases, this method is commonly used for PVC zippers.

For hot air welding, the main consideration is heat retention. Heat above 70 degrees Celsius can damage the zipper. Moreover, a seam sealing process is often required to prevent air / water leakage.