There are so many types of tarpaulins! Have you chosen the right one?

A brief introduction to tarpaulin knowledge----------------------------------------------------------------

Tarpaulin is a must for truck drivers, and choosing one requires prior research. Let's learn how to choose a tarpaulin, what materials it comes in, and what are its characteristics?

When choosing tarpaulin, pay special attention to these 3 points

1.Waterproofness:This is a major concern for truck drivers. After all, the side panels and cargo compartments rely on the tarpaulin to protect them from rain. The tarpaulin's waterproof performance directly affects the safety of the cargo. Once rainwater seeps into the cargo compartment and soaks the cargo, it can cause financial losses.

2. Sunshade: When transporting fruits and vegetables in the hot summer, if the sun protection performance is poor and the sunlight cannot be blocked, the fruits and vegetables will easily rot or dry out over time.

3. Abrasion and tear resistance：When securing a tarpaulin, it is usually necessary to stretch it vigorously and tie it to the various hooks on the cargo compartment, which puts the tarpaulin under great tension. Furthermore, the working conditions on the transport road are extremely complex and unstable. The tarpaulin is exposed to the outdoors for a long time and is subjected to the combination of inclement weather and harsh working conditions. Therefore, its abrasion and tear resistance must be strong. 

Tarpaulin Types And Characteristics

● PVC tarpaulin: Mainstream, high-strength, durable, and heavy-duty

Common PVC tarpaulins are woven from high-strength polyester yarns. Polyester offers excellent corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance, and high strength, making it renowned for its durability. PVC tarpaulins are sprayed with polyvinyl chloride, creating a waterproof layer that effectively prevents rainwater from penetrating, rendering them virtually watertight.

While PVC tarpaulins offer excellent water and abrasion resistance, they are still quite heavy. Even for a 4.2-meter-long cargo truck, covering it with the tarpaulin alone would be quite challenging, making it more suitable for shorter vehicles.

● PE tarpaulin: lightweight, slightly less wear-resistant

If you want a certain degree of waterproofness while also wanting to be lightweight, then PE tarpaulin is a good choice. The raw material for PE tarpaulin is high-density polyethylene, which is a LDPE coated on both sides of the HDPE base fabric. Its biggest feature is that it is very light and more affordable. At the same time, it also has a basic waterproof effect.

However, PE tarpaulins are slightly less wear-resistant than PVC tarpaulins. If they are often used in harsh and complex working conditions, they may easily break after repeated use. However, due to their light weight and low price, they are still quite common on large trailers. They are also easy to cover, and even if they are damaged, it is not a big deal to replace them.

● Knife coated tarpaulin：strong wear resistance

Nowadays, the use of knife-coated tarpaulin is also quite popular. This kind of tarpaulin is made of chemically synthesized materials and is composed of three parts. The top and bottom parts are usually made of PVC material, and the middle layer uses a polyester base fabric. The three parts are compressed together through a specific compression method to form a Knife coated tarpaulin.

As the name suggests, knife-coated tarpaulin has exceptional wear resistance, high strength, good ductility, and flexibility. It is not susceptible to corrosion and has a certain degree of waterproofing. The surface of this knife-coated tarpaulin is very smooth and feels very good to the touch. It can provide excellent protection for transportation vehicles and exposed goods.

● Triple-proof tarpaulin: fireproof, waterproof and mildew-proof

The three-proof tarpaulin is made by coating PVC, PTFE, flame-retardant silicone, and other refractory materials on the surface of fire-resistant fibers and adding a variety of chemical additives such as mildew inhibitors, anti-aging agents, antistatic agents, etc., and then heat-sealing them at high temperature to make it fireproof, waterproof, and mildew-proof.

Truckers are exposed to the elements on the road, and tarpaulins can help protect their cargo, preventing damage from various weather conditions. What kind of tarpaulin do you use? Feel free to contact us.