Tarpaulin, or tarp, is a heavy-duty, waterproof fabric, originally made of tarred cotton canvas and used by sailors. Tarpaulins often have reinforcedgrommetsat the corners and along the sides to form attachment points forrope, allowing them to be tied down or suspended.
Today, tarps are commonly made of plastics such as polyethylene, this material is so associated with tarpaulins that it has become colloquially known in some quarters asPolytarp. Other than polytarp, there are also other kind of tarps such as Vinyl tarp and Canvas tarp.
Types of Tarpaulin materials:
- A polyethylene tarpaulin (polytarp) is not a traditional fabric, but rather, a laminate of woven and sheet material. The center is loosely woven from strips of polyethylene plastic, with sheets of the same material bonded to the surface. This creates a fabric-like material that resists stretching well in all directions and is waterproof. Sheets can be either of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). When treated against ultraviolet light, these tarpaulins can last for years exposed to the elements, but non-UV treated material will quickly become brittle and lose strength and water resistance if exposed to sunlight.
- Canvas tarpaulins are not 100% waterproof, though they are water-resistant. Thus, while a small amount of water for a short period of time will not affect them, when there is standing water on canvas tarps, or when water cannot quickly drain away from canvas tarps, the standing water will drip through this type of tarp.
- Vinyl Polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) tarpaulins are industrial-grade and intended for heavy-duty use. They are constructed of 340 g/m2 coated yellow vinyl. This makes it waterproof and gives it a high abrasion resistance and tear strength. These resist oil, acid, grease and mildew. The vinyl tarp is ideal for agriculture, construction, industrial, trucks, flood barrier and temporary roof repair.
When compared with canvas tarps and vinyl tarps, poly tarps are the least expensive of the three. They are also waterproof and rot proof as opposed to canvas tarps which are only water-resistant and may rot in very damp conditions. Poly tarps are a great choice for everyday use, and when UV treated they hold up well in extended outdoor use. However, they are not as durable as vinyl or canvas tarps.
How is Polyethylene Tarpaulin Made?
Most tarpaulin manufacturers start with polyethylene purchased in pellet form. HDPE pellets are fed into an extruding line which first melts the pellets and produces polyethylene film, and then cuts and stretches the film into polyethylene yarn.
A weaving loom then cross-weaves the yarn into a fabric that is tear-resistant and stretch-resistant. This fabric is then coated on both sides with a layer of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which gives the tarpaulin a protective shiny finish, and masterbatches are used at this step to determine the color of the tarpaulin.
Rolls of tarpaulin produced in this way would then be cut to size, edges reinforced with rope and welded, and grommets (the rings evenly spaced along the edges of a tarp) added to create the finished product.
Polytarps application
A tarp is graded light-duty, medium-duty, or heavy-duty; each grade is suitable for different applications. Since Tarpaulin is a highly versatile fabric, there are many uses of the product in everyday life:
- To cover equipment and vehicles outdoors, protecting them from rain, snow, dust, etc.
- As a groundsheet or rainproof cover when camping
- In scaffolding to protect work areas from weather damage
- To store lumber or a protective liner for rail cars and trucks
- As a picnic mat or sheet for hauling yard debris such as leaves or trimmings
- In emergency situations such as to cover a broken window or damaged roof
- As a makeshift shelter for disaster relief
Conclusion
Tarpaulins of all kinds are playing an important role in our life, thanks to its inexpensiveness and versatility. Among that, Polyethylene Tarpaulin has proven to be the most efficient in many factors and will continue to contribute its value to the human, until a better material could be found.
Sun Materials Vietnam Company is the leading manufacturer of Filler Masterbatch and Color Masterbatch for Plastic application, including Polyethylene Tarpaulin manufacturing. With high-quality materials and tested formula for this application, we can assure the durability of your product and the finesse of the product's appearance.
- Our website: www.sunjsc.vn
- My email: billy.sunjsc@gmail.com
- Phone/Whatsapp: +84 394682548
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