What type of bonding occurs with plastic grommets during installation?

The correct answer is that plastic grommets are doped directly to the fabric covering. This method involves using a chemical agent that adheres the grommet to the fabric, providing a strong bond that is essential for maintaining the structural integrity and protection against wear where the grommet is applied.

Doping is often preferred because it creates a secure installation without introducing the additional bulk or potential gap that could occur with adhesives or stitching. This direct bonding process ensures that the grommet remains firmly in place, which is crucial for applications involving tension or movement, such as in aircraft coverings or other fabric structures exposed to dynamic forces.

Other methods of bonding grommets, such as gluing, stitching, or heat pressing, can often compromise the integrity of the fabric material or fail to provide the necessary strength. Gluing may not withstand the environmental conditions experienced in aviation, stitching could introduce weak points in the fabric, and heat pressing might damage the material rather than enhance the bond between the grommet and fabric. Therefore, doping is the optimal choice for grommet installation in these contexts.