this paper deals with the fabrication and tesing of a high-performance coated fabric for life vests and water-safety inflatables used on commercial aircraft and by the military. nylon fabric was selected because of its strength-to-weight characteristics, but choosing a fabric coating was more complicated the coating had to provide a variety of physical properties and meet stringent performance requirements. the material ultimately chosen are the fabric coating is pellethane polyurethane elastomer from the dow chemical co., midland, mich. the physical properties of pellethane elastomers were one reason for the choice. the elastomer provides a gel-free surface and permits fabrication with consistent thicknesses. another major advantage of pellethane elastomer is that it can be heat-sealed. also, unlike similar rubber-coated fabrics, there is no need for energy-intensive curing steps that are common in rubber lamination. this simplifies the production process, keeping product consistency high and lowering overall production costs