DCF Stretch

[Peak a Week]

The short term benefits of DCF seem undeniable, but I did read one long-term review where the user experienced permanent deformation of the fabric after a wind storm. I’m picturing a similar effect to when you stretch plastic wrap past it’s yield strength.

This was the first time I had read this, so I wanted to post here to expand the sample size a bit. Hoping the folks with long term DCF experience might be able to chime in here. Thanks in advance

 

[tdot]

I haven't personally witnessed stretch in DCF. The normal mode of failure in DCF is delamination. DCF used to be named Cuben Fiber, it was utilized for spinnaker's on sailboats (big downwind sails) along with Kitesurfing kites for a short period. I've seen some of the spinnaker's lose their shape, but that was across a sail of 1000's of square feet. A minimal stretch of even a fraction of a % would result in them losing their shape. Yet you couldn't see stretch marks on the material itself.

The current DCF is much better then the older Cuben Fiber.

The failure may have been a stretch or separation at the seams.

 

[AK Troutbum]

My oldest DCF shelter is a HMG Ultamid 4 that I bought new 5 years ago. I’ve used that shelter on at least one hunt every year I’ve owned it, and I’ve experienced some pretty heavy winds on multiple occasions in it while goat hunting on Kodiak, all without issue. I can’t say that I’ve ever really seen DCF stretch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Peak a Week]

Here’s the original source. I probably should have been more specific as it’s more related to fabric yield on the perpendicular axis to the fabric sheet. After some searching this is the only example I’ve seen of this happening.

Mountain Laurel Designs DCF Duomid Long-term Review - Backpacking Light

http://theirsecretnames.com/blog/2020/5/11/mountain-laurel-designs-dcf-duomid-long-term-reviewnbsp

backpackinglight.com

 

[Kevin_t]

DCF is not perfect by any means. By all means , a good Silicone coated Nylon will win the long term durability and more extreme performance .. Note I said Silicone coated nylon not Poly. Yes we have done the Poly tests .. and for us, the drawbacks out weight the benefits.

Where DCF excels
1. I think it improves the experience in its usable life span, and within its performance limits.
2. It is pretty easy to repair of resolve issues with a double sided quality Dyneema tape. For instance, tape the stretched area with non stretched.

 

[roosiebull]

I haven't personally witnessed stretch in DCF. The normal mode of failure in DCF is delamination. DCF used to be named Cuben Fiber, it was utilized for spinnaker's on sailboats (big downwind sails) along with Kitesurfing kites for a short period. I've seen some of the spinnaker's lose their shape, but that was across a sail of 1000's of square feet. A minimal stretch of even a fraction of a % would result in them losing their shape. Yet you couldn't see stretch marks on the material itself.

The current DCF is much better then the older Cuben Fiber.

The failure may have been a stretch or separation at the seams.

a spinnaker is also super exposed to some very harsh elements... salt water and intense direct sunlight is hard on about everything... if it lasts long enough in that environment to be used, it's probably a pretty good shelter material.

i did not realize that's what it was used for, that gives me more confidence in the material for my uses