Quick Reference - The Four Construction Classes
Four bonding mechanisms, four failure modes, and what each one is available in today.
- Volume
- 07
- Order
- № 05
- Read
- 1 min
- Tags
- appendix · inventory
- Published
A summary table for readers who came to this volume to know what their next bag might be made of.
| Construction class | Example fabrics | Bonding mechanism | Primary failure mode | Where the failure shows | Current availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PU-bonded laminate | X-Pac VX21, Ultra 100/200/400X, ECOPAK EPX200, DCF Hybrid 2.92 | Polyurethane adhesive (solvent-free or PUR hot melt) between face, crossply, and film | Adhesive delamination at fold lines | Hipbelt fold, roll-top hinge, shoulder strap attachment, bottom corner | Mainstream; retail yardage widely available |
| Fusion-bonded mono-material | ALUULA Graflyte, ALUULA Durlyte | Heat-and-pressure molecular fusion of UHMWPE face to PE film; no adhesive | Face abrasion, film UV degradation; no adhesive layer to fail | Surface wear; film UV; no laminate-style fold blistering | Cottage-scale; not at retail yardage |
| Hybrid woven UHMWPE/nylon | Pioneer 10XD, Challenge UltraStretch | None - single-layer woven textile, no laminate | Conventional fabric aging: DWR loss, surface fray, weave thinning | Wear-out at high-abrasion zones; no laminate failure | Specialty; accessory-scale availability |
| Conventional woven nylon/polyester | 500D Cordura, 1680D Robic, 420D ballistic | PU back-coating (not a structural laminate) | PU coating wear, surface abrasion, UV at exterior seams | Coating loss on inside; surface wear on outside | Mainstream; retail yardage widely available |
The transition from row 1 to row 2 is the central subject of Vol. VII. The other rows are included for context: Vol. I covers conventional wovens at length; Vol. VII does not duplicate that work.