Tarpaulin

Definition and Overview

Tarpaulin originally refers to a durable sheet with water resistance. In apparel and materials fields, it often refers to a material made by using woven fabric such as polyester as the base fabric and coating the surface with resin such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The type of base fabric, the type of resin, surface treatment, and thickness vary by product. For that reason, the name tarpaulin alone cannot be used to uniformly judge performance such as flexibility, water resistance, weather resistance, or flame retardancy.

Features

The surface has the smoothness and gloss unique to resin, or a matte texture, and has more firmness and body than ordinary woven fabric. Some types show the weave on the surface, and others are embossed to create a leather-like or textile-like appearance.

It resists water and is easy to wipe clean. On the other hand, breathability and absorbency are limited, so when used for clothing, it is necessary to check moisture buildup, stiffness, and the feel against the skin at the specification stage. Some types become hard in low temperatures or are stressed at folded sections.

• Check water resistance, including the specifications of the resin layer and seam treatment.
• For outdoor applications, check test data for light resistance and weather resistance.
• Surface scratches, creases, and whitening tendencies vary depending on the color and processing.

Main Applications

It is used for applications that require water resistance and strength, such as signs, protective sheets, tents, rain covers, partitions, and bags. In the apparel field, it is used for fashion accessories such as bags, pouches, and belts, as well as for partial use in rainwear and outdoor items.

It is used throughout the year, but in apparel it pairs well with products planned for rainy weather or outdoor activities. Since using it over the entire item affects wear comfort due to weight and stiffness, designs that limit its use to switches, pockets, or reinforcement sections are also used.

How to Choose and Handling Precautions

When selecting it, check the base fabric, type of resin, thickness, industry weight, width, surface gloss, and flexibility. Depending on the application, it is important to define the required performance such as tensile strength, tear strength, hydrostatic pressure resistance, and lightfastness, and to conduct prototype evaluations that are close to actual use conditions.

With tarpaulin, the main concerns are not so much major shrinkage of the base fabric from washing, but deterioration of the resin layer, surface scratches, peeling, and discoloration. Washability varies depending on the material composition and processing, so always follow the washing label on the textile and the method specified by the manufacturer.

During sewing, needle holes may reduce water resistance. For products that need to suppress water intrusion through seams, consider sealing with seam tape or similar methods. Also, because feed marks, presser foot marks, needle holes, and creases may stand out, check the needle, thread, and sewing conditions in advance using offcuts.

Differences from Similar Terms

Coating is the processing itself that forms a film of resin or similar material on the surface of the textile. Tarpaulin often refers to a sheet-type material that has undergone such processing and emphasizes strength and water resistance, and its meaning range differs from coating, which is the name of a process.

Laminate and bonding refer to processes and structures in which film or another material is bonded together. Some tarpaulins have a laminate structure, but not all laminated textiles are tarpaulin. Canvas refers to a heavy woven fabric, and whether or not it has resin processing is a separate factor.

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