A seat cover is an item that covers the upholstery of a vehicle’s factory seats to protect them from dirt and debris, or to personalize the interior design. Seat covers are available in a variety of fabric types, and may be designed for vehicle-specific or universal fitment. Despite the broad range of available options, most car seat covers feature similar designs: they slip over the seats and are secured by straps that run underneath the seat cushion. The quality of the seat cover’s fit and comfort depends on the type of material it is made from, and how the cover is anchored to the vehicle seat.
To ensure mechanical durability of seat covers, several properties must be considered: strength, abrasion resistance and pilling propensity. These attributes can be improved by appropriate selection of fiber type, yarn structure and fabrics’ construction, as well as by the use of a proper finish.
Besides the material used, seat cover’s other main features are breathability and water-repellency. In the automotive industry, seat covers are mostly trilaminates consisting of a face fabric, foam layer and scrim backing. The choice of face fabric is important, and it must be lightfast, soil resistant and have a good abrasion resistance.
A good example is a polyester (polyester) seat cover, which is popular because of its durability and breathability, especially in warm weather. Other materials that are often used in seat covers include leather, neoprene and linen. Leather is a common choice for luxury vehicles, and offers a luxurious look and feel. Other than a pleasant appearance, it has great strength and requires little maintenance.