A seat cover provides protection, comfort and style to the interior of your car. It shields the seats from spills, stains and damage, maintaining the value and lifespan of your vehicle. The selection of the right seat cover material is a critical factor that should be carefully considered. Taking into account the type of car, lifestyle and environmental factors will help you decide on the fabric that best meets your needs.
For example, the material used in a seat cover that will be used in a hot climate may need to be made from breathable cotton or linen to prevent heat build-up. On the other hand, if the cover will be subjected to heavy use or frequent exposure to water and stain-prone substances then a waterproof material such as neoprene might be a more appropriate choice.
The majority of seat covers available in the market are multi-layered trilaminates consisting of a face fabric, a foam layer and a scrim backing fabric (Sen, 2008). In order to meet the requirements for comfort and appearance they have to possess initial properties such as soil resistance, colourfastness to light, abrasion resistance and seam stability.
Due to the complex structure of these fabrics their mechanical durability depends on a variety of parameters such as fibre type, yarn structure, fabric construction and finish. The chapter presents an overview of the current state of research into enhancing the mechanical properties of these fabrics to ensure that they have sufficient durability for the required application of the car seat cover.