Materials Used for a Tarpaulin

Posted on: 2021-01-27

A tarpaulin is an incredibly useful piece of equipment, which is used across many industries including agriculture, construction, and logistics. Despite their range of uses, all tarps will need the same basic properties. These include water resistance, abrasion resistance, and very high strength to withstand loads and tight tensioning. Different tarpaulin materials will give the product special properties and strengths for a specific use.

Some of the most common tarpaulin materials include:

• Polyethylene (PE) – this is a very versatile woven plastic. It is flexible while still maintaining good strength, is completely waterproof, highly abrasion-resistant, and can withstand intense UV radiation from the sun. A tarpaulin made with polyethylene can be used in agriculture, construction, and home use.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – a material that is fully waterproof and resistant to abrasion, UV, and weather. It can even resist some acids and oils in use, and if damaged it can be repaired with hot-air welding. These are most commonly used as truck curtains and other outdoor applications.
• Canvas – a tarpaulin may be made with canvas, a very breathable material that still offers good weather resistance when treated.

Polytex is a leader in the tarpaulin industry with many years of experience. Our tarps use a range of materials to fit the exact requirements of the job.