What are tarpaulins made of?

3rd March 2020

	What are tarpaulins made of?


	Shop for Tarpaulins


			Nowadays, whilst canvas tarpaulins can still be purchased, a wide variety of other materials are available. Different tarpaulins also have different uses, and the type of material used can often provide an indicator as to what applications the tarpaulin is most appropriate for.

			Natural fabrics
			Traditional tarpaulins, which are often made from canvas, can still be purchased today.

			Canvas
			Canvas (frequently cotton duck canvas) is a heavy, robust material, which is given a wax coating to create a water-resistant layer. This will need periodic recoating.

			Advantages Canvas is a “breathable material”, which means that no moisture is able to build up between the tarpaulin and the object it’s covering.

			Canvas is also heavy, so is ideal as a barrier against wind.

			Cotton canvas tarpaulins are made from completely natural fibres and thus do not suffer damage under high temperatures (for instance, when transporting tarmacadam (Tarmac) or asphalt at over 120°C).

			Disadvantages Canvas is not actually waterproof itself, instead having a water-resistant layer applied.

			If the canvas tarpaulin has been dyed, the colour may run.

			What can you use this tarpaulin for? This type of tarpaulin can be used as: A cover for objects

			A ground sheet.

			A tarmacadam cover (such canvas tarpaulins are usually made from 16oz cotton canvas).

			Jute (sometimes referred to as “hessian”)
			Jute is a plant fibre which is woven into a thread to create many different things, such as rope and carpet. It is also turned into sheets which are frequently sold as tarpaulins. Jute tarpaulins may be wax proofed to provide some protection from the rain.

			Advantages Jute has high levels of heat resistance, enabling it to be used to cover tarmacadam and keep the heat in.

			Disadvantages Jute is not itself waterproof.

			What can you use this tarpaulin for? This type of tarpaulin can be used as: A tarmacadam cover (sometimes used underneath another sheet, the cover will stick to the tarmacadam, but can be easily peeled off).

			Plastics
			Modern tarpaulins are often made from thermoplastics, which are plastics which can be heated up and manipulated more than once.

			Silnylon
			Silnylon tarpaulins are made from nylon infused with silicone.

			Advantages Silnylon tarpaulins are incredibly light, which makes carrying them around (e.g. on a camping trip) much easier.

			Disadvantages When exposed to water, silnylon does have a tendency to stretch.

			What can you use this tarpaulin for? This type of tarpaulin can be used as: A temporary shelter

			Polypropylene
			Polypropylene is a propene polymer, (and is alternatively called polypropene) and tarpaulins made from this are similar to those made from jute, but do not allow any water to pass through the sheet.

			Advantages Polypropylene is waterproof

			It is possible to purchase some polypropylene tarpaulins cheaply

			Polypropylene tarpaulins can be lightweight

			Disadvantages Polypropylene tarpaulins are not designed to last in constant sunlight for years on end

			What can you use this tarpaulin for? This type of tarpaulin can be used as: A temporary shelter (for example, covering tents during wet weather)

			A ground sheet

			Polyethylene
			Polyethylene is an ethene polymer, also known as polyethene. These tarpaulins (which are also known as poly tarps) are, whilst commonplace, not the most robust tarpaulins available.

			They may be constructed from low density polyethylene (a weaker, near solid polyethylene) or high density polyethylene (which is stronger and more flexible), and subsequently coated (laminated) with the other.

			Advantages Polyethylene tarpaulins are often cheap

			They are also waterproof

			Polyethylene tarpaulins are usually lightweight.

			Disadvantages Polyethylene tarpaulins may not be appropriate for extensive or hard-wearing use.

			What can you use this tarpaulin for? This type of tarpaulin can be used as: A cover (although not for extended periods of time).

			A temporary shelter (for example, covering tents in wet weather)

			Polyester
			Polyester is a material often used to make clothing. It can also be used to make tarpaulins, and is often covered with a (poly)urethane PU layer.

			Advantages PU coated polyester tarpaulins are waterproof.

			PU coated polyester tarpaulins offer shelter from the sun.

			Disadvantages Polyester may become noisy in windy conditions.

			What can you use this tarpaulin for? This type of tarpaulin can be used as: A temporary shelter

			PVC
			PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is stronger than polyethylene, and tarpaulins made out of this are designed to withstand extended usage in adverse weather conditions. Some of these tarpaulins may be constructed from polyester with a PVC lamination.

			Advantages PVC tarpaulins are waterproof.

			They are also less prone to rips and tears.

			Disadvantages Unlike canvas, which is also very robust, PVC is not breathable.

			What can you use this tarpaulin for? This type of tarpaulin can be used for: Heavy-duty work, including transporting and covering objects on flatbed lorries.

			Mesh
			Tarpaulins can also be made with a mesh design which helps allow moisture to escape in the same vein as canvas tarpaulins. Such tarpaulins are often nylon based. However, these tarpaulins cannot protect objects from the weather, as they are designed to allow a degree of wind and light through.

			Advantages Moisture can escape from mesh tarpaulins.

			Mesh tarpaulins are useful should the user wish to allow light and wind through.

			Disadvantages Mesh tarpaulins cannot protect anything from the elements.

			What can you use this tarpaulin for? This type of tarpaulin can be used for: Transporting foliage, grass trimmings and other materials where gases and water may need to escape.

			Rip-Stop or Cotton-Poly canvas
			There are also tarpaulins known as “Rip-Stop” or “Cotton-Poly” canvas tarpaulins. These benefit from being a hybrid between the natural fibres of cotton and polyester, which is synthetic, and have benefits of both.

			Advantages Cotton-Poly canvas tarpaulins are marketed as being fully waterproof (a property of plastic tarpaulins).

			They are also breathable (a property of canvas).

			Cotton-Poly canvas tarpaulins are marketed as being “rip proof”.

			Disadvantages If the Cotton-Poly canvas tarpaulin has been dyed, the colour may run.

			What can you use this tarpaulin for? This type of tarpaulin can be used for: Covering steel. This is because the tarpaulin’s breathability means that moisture will not build up underneath it, limiting the effects of rusting.

			It’s also possible to purchase “Rip-Stop” nylon products, including tarpaulins.

			Plastic sheeting is also used during the laying of concrete to act as a moisture barrier. However, it should be noted that these plastic sheets are not appropriate for use as tarpaulins due to the fact that they are not very durable in the sunlight, quickly going brittle.

			In addition, tarpaulins are sometimes designed with specific resistances in mind. These can include:

			UV (ultraviolet ray) resistance

			Rot proofing

			Flame retardance (resistance to burning)

			Frost resistance (in contrast, some tarpaulins are able to function in very cold conditions).

			Extra insulation

			Non-shrinking

			Protection from acid

			Some tarpaulins are also marketed as having tear or rip resistance, or even, in some cases, being rip proof. Some may also be marketed as being resilient to stretching.