What results from the degradation of a parachute's protective polyurethane coating?

The degradation of a parachute's protective polyurethane coating leads to air leaking through the fabric, which directly impacts the parachute's performance. The coating serves as a critical barrier that helps to maintain the structural integrity of the parachute, ensuring that it retains its shape and effectively captures air to provide lift. When this coating deteriorates, small holes or areas of weakness can develop in the fabric, allowing air to escape. This results in a loss of inflation and a decrease in the parachute's overall ability to operate effectively, thereby compromising safety. Proper maintenance of the parachute, including the coating, is essential to ensure it performs as intended during deployment.