Tarpaulin, also known as Tarp, is a sheet of material made of different materials such as canvas, mesh, polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, etc. It is water-resistant, waterproof, durable, and flexible, we use it for many applications and protections in our daily activities or industrial works. Tarpaulin is good at protecting items against the rain, wind, and direct sunlight. It is most commonly used in construction sites for covering buildings, protecting scaffolding, or covering the cargo for trucks. It is normally equipped with reinforced grommets at each corner of the tarpaulin to allow it to be tied down or suspended over the subject. Grommets can be made of stainless steel, aluminum, or other materials. The tarpaulin can be classified by its material types, thickness, grommet strength, or application purpose such as regular duty, heavy-duty, super heavy-duty usage, etc. Here we will discuss the tarpaulin according to its material types.
Polyethylene Tarps
Polyethylene tarpaulin is also known as Polytarp or PE Tarpaulin. It is the most versatile and advanced type of tarpaulin due to its high durability and cheaper price. It is made of propene polymer which is a type of plastic. Polyethylene is durable, strong, non-toxic, odorless, resistant to wear, tear, mildew, and water. Poly tarp can be made from low-density form and high-density form. A high-duty poly tarpaulin is heavier and has a higher mesh count and more poly coatings. It also can be undergoing other chemical treatments which make it has the feature of fire retardant and ultraviolet radiation resistance. The poly tarp is available in a wide range of colors including blue, silver, brown, and white poly tarps. Silver and white poly tarps are considered the most popular options for truck and roofing protection due to the functions of heat and UV reflection. If you are looking for a tarpaulin for short-term or temporary usage, a light-duty poly tart is your preferred choice as the price is affordable since it is not financially viable to invest high costs for temporary usage. Despite its feature of waterproof, it is not weather resistant. Long hours of exposure to sunlight and wind can actually affect its original structure after long-term usage. They are also not suitable to be used extensively for hard-wearing applications.
Vinyl Tarps
The vinyl tarpaulin is a synthetic plastic that has a slightly glossy and shiny appearance. It is comprised of several different layers which are heat-sealed and made it 100% waterproof and strong at wear resistance and tear resistance. It is thicker and stronger than other types of tarpaulin. All Vinyl tarpaulins are waterproof and not breathable, they are good at withstanding cold weather and trapping heat. Vinyl tarp is suitable for industrial use and high duty purposes. The most common uses of vinyl tarps are general transport/truck covers, industrial roof covers, visibility screens, or other outdoor applications because of their strong resistance to wind or other severe weather conditions. Due to its durability, vinyl is the best option for outdoor applications and it comes with a wide range of colors and specialties to match the requirements.
Canvas Tarps
Canvas tarpaulin is made of natural material which is 100% cotton fiber, highly breathable, less abrasive and has a coarse texture appearance. Canvas tarpaulin is lightweight, affordable, long-lasting, and heavy-duty. It provides a certain degree of weather protection but does not provide 100% waterproof and tends to last shorten than other tarps such as vinyl tarpaulin. Although it is not as durable as vinyl tarpaulin, canvas tarp is much more environmentally friendly and has lesser impact on the environment. Several chemical treatments such as flame retardant, water-resistant, mildew-resistant chemicals can be applied on the canvas tarpaulin to improve its functionality and performance. Canvas tarp is suitable to be made as shade or shelter of the camping facilities as it can provide shelter from the wind, rain, and sunlight. Other common uses of canvas tarpaulin are to protect furniture, carpet, other items while doing painting works for the building. Since canvas tarpaulin is breathable, it prevents moisture to build on the load and it is an ideal option to cover load in a flatbed truck.
Mesh Tarps
Mesh tarpaulin is typically made of synthetic material like vinyl or polyethylene. It is weaved like a screen that features evenly spaced holes over the threads of material. It is lightweight, strong, and breathable which allows a certain amount of air, sunlight, and moisture to pass through it. The mesh tarp is mainly used for shading such as privacy screen, tennis court netting, golf courses netting, or garden shades. We also use mesh tarps to cover materials and protect them from flying away from the truck, but it only suitable for some materials which do not have the threat of getting damaged by the weather, such as asphalt, rocks, gravel, etc. Another frequent application of mesh tarp is used at agricultural facilities as some plants require mild air and sunlight in order to grow faster and healthier in a protected environment. A mesh tarp with a tighter thread count and thicker thread shaft will be more durable and last longer.
Custom Tarps
Tarpaulin manufacturers can design and manufacture custom tarpaulin or custom cover for any type of application ranging from light duty to heavy duty works. Custom tarp can be tailored to match your required size, material, and specification. A wide range of materials available for custom tarps such as nylon, canvas, mesh, poly, and vinyl. For industrial use, we suggest a heavy-duty type with a weight of more than 18 ounces in order to achieve greater strength. Special applications such as covering for multi-story buildings, power plants, aircraft, or sports fields may require custom tarpaulin to match the specific dimensions and specifications. A custom tarp normally takes a few days or weeks to manufacture and ready for collection.
When we are choosing the right tarpaulin for your application, we must consider the terms/duration and the way of using it. Whether is it for long-term or short-term usage? For heavy-duty or light duty? We also need to consider whether require other special properties or proofing on the tarpaulin. There is a wide range of tarpaulin available to suit your needs and budget, ranging from low cost to high-end applications. MecHero Malaysia supplies a wide range of tarpaulin for all types of applications. You can always contact us at +6011-7000 7687 or email us at my.mechero@gmail.com for an inquiry about the tarpaulin. As a steel and hardware online supplier in Malaysia, we also supply a wide range of steel material, general hardware, or mechanical components. Tell us your requirements now and we can advise you accordingly.
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