What is Flocking?

Flocking is the collective process of depositing numerous fine hair-like fibers onto a hard surface. It may also refer to a specific material used mostly for the production of the said surface, or to the rough texture created during the process. It was first found in 1832 by German mineralogist Carl Schaible. Flocking is mainly based on the principle of electrostatic attraction and the occurrence of opposite charge poles around an object.

Flocking is mainly employed for construction purposes; to join permanently joined pieces of wood, concrete or other solid materials. The term is also widely used in the context of art crafts, specifically when used on furniture and decorative objects. Some other applications of flocking include boat lining (on boat hulls and boat deck), textile stuffing (for cushioning and giving it a soft touch), electrical insulating materials (for electrical insulating materials used in thermal insulation of roofs), marine sails (on boats), roofing shingles (on residential roofs), pre-molded artificial trees, dyes (for trees and plants), etc. In addition, flocking is also often used as a drying agent for paper products, as it absorbs moisture very quickly, which avoids the emission of harmful vapors into the environment.

There are three kinds of flocking: loose fill, tapered fill, and stick tape flocking. The loose fill flocking process is achieved by feeding the synthetic fibers into a hopper that has no head and no bottom. The fibers are fed until they have completely covered the bottom of the hopper. The tapered fill flocking method requires a continuous feed of yarn or synthetic fibers, which are fed into the hopper repeatedly, but with gaps between each feed.

Flocking can be applied in two basic methods: wet and dry. In wet flocking, the fibers are loaded into the hopper in a semi-liquid form, such as a gelatinous or emulsified paste. It should be noted that some types of flocking are not compatible with certain adhesives because the adhesives may interfere with the bonding of the flock fibers.

Dry flocking involves the use of an adhesive that is applied directly to the surface of the roof shingles or other materials used to cover the flocked area. The adhesive is usually a high quality silicone adhesive, such as EPDM, but may also be polyurethane, cellulose, or similar products. Once the adhesive is set firmly on the surface of the roof, the flocked areas are left in a moist environment for a number of days.

Some of the advantages of using flocking as an environmental management practice include: controlling excessive temperatures by providing an extra level of insulation; reducing the amount of ventilation requirements for the flock; reducing the need for energy consumption as well as water treatment for the flock; controlling wind speeds and eliminating predators; and creating a healthier environment for the birds and the people that interact with the flocks. Flocking has been a major factor in reclamation projects in South America and has also been implemented in the USA and UK. Other applications include building new homes and schools. As more attention is paid to environmental issues, it is likely that flocking will become an even more popular alternative for many of our society's environmental management needs.