Why you can't judge a cover by its cover

Today’s protective covers are technical textiles consisting of multiple layers, so your evaluation has to be more than skin deep. You’ll want to know not only what the layers are, but how they function.

It can be difficult to assess a cover simply by looking at it. Different covers function in very different ways. For example, some covers use a super-absorbent polymer (think baby diapers). That’s something to be aware of because once they absorb a lot of moisture they can become very heavy - and trap moisture against the asset you’re covering. They can also freeze in colder temperatures.

Some covers rely on vapor corrosion inhibitors or VCIs. While the words “corrosion inhibitors” sound like a great benefit, VCIs are tricky when it comes to covers. The chemical works best in a fully-enclosed environment which is virtually impossible to achieve on a vehicle, tank, or helicopter. And when that chemical isn’t absorbed properly and evenly, it can lead to pitting (arguably the worst kind of corrosion). VCIs also pose a health risk to personnel in certain situations.

The above helps explain why Cocoon sought a different path to protective covers. In trying to avoid the problems found in all the existing technologies, we went in search of an entirely new approach.

After several years of R&D we ended up with a three-layer cover that includes an outer (facing) fabric, a membrane, and an inner (backing) fabric laminated together. The real star of the show is the membrane, which you cannot see - hence the headline of this blog post.

“In trying to avoid the problems found in all the existing technologies, we went in search of an entirely new approach.”

Thanks to more than a billion pores per square inch, this membrane, in combination with the facing and backing fabrics, is both waterproof AND highly air-permeable - not just breathable. That’s an essential distinction because it allows moisture to escape as water vapor. A cover may be breathable, but unless it’s air-permeable moisture vapor can’t escape and condenses back into a liquid state - potentially causing rather than preventing corrosion.

So if you really want to protect your assets and maintain their readiness, you’d be wise to get below the surface to understand the science.