Tarpaulin Material Biography

A fabric that

became one of life

TARPAULIN necessities

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a material biography by 1 imran hakim

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_Tarpaulin came from two words;

‘tar’ and ‘palling’. Tarpaulin began from material sheets being dunked in tar, and the process of covering the material in tar is called palling. By definition, it refers to a waterproofed cover made of different materials.

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_A glimpse of Tarpaulin’s history

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Tarps have been around for a long time since the 15th century and had been an

integral part of our lives, serving a multitude of purposes.

Age of Exploration:15th - 16th Century

Tarpaulins in Military

were the primary material

as covering military

In the early days, canvases

for tarpaulins. Sailors were known to waterproof their canvas by applying tar

on it. This waterproofing

method allowed European

During times of conflict,

canvas tarps were utilized for military use such equipment, making

shelters, or even making storage bags for combat gears.

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explorers and adventurers to depend on canvas

tarpaulins to protect their

valuable cargo, equipment, and, most importantly,

Synthetic Materials

unpredictable forces

improvement of synthetic

essential layer of protection

and PVC revolutionized

themselves from the

After World Conflict II, the

of nature. It became an

materials like polyethylene

during long sea voyages.

tarp manufacturing. These materials offered high

strength, waterproofing,

and protection from cruel natural circumstances.

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_Making of tarpaulin

1 Material Selection

Tarpaulins are made from a variety of materials, including

Tarpaulin manufacturers

polyethylene, PVC, canvas, and mesh. The choice of

and techniques to achieve

and the desired properties such as strength, durability,

use a variety of processes

material depends on the intended use of the tarpaulin

a desired quality.

flexibility, and UV resistance.

2 Cutting

The chosen material is first cut into the desired shape and size using cutting machines or tools such as knives or scissors.

3 Joining

The individual pieces of material are then joined together using various techniques such as heat sealing, sewing, or bonding.

4 Reinforcement

To increase their strength and durability, reinforcements can be added using additional layers of material, reinforcing strips, or metal grommets.

5 Finishing

Finally, processes such as hemming, eyeletting, or coating.

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_Main properties of Tarpaulin

Air permeability

Tarpaulins in have a wide range of

permeanbility depending on the base

fabric, density, material, type of waterproof finishing agent and resin adhension.

Tensile strength

Tarpaulins are known to be able to

withstand various tensions without

deforming. The base fabric is made of

high-strength polyester, cinylon and other

long-fibre fabrics. The strength of the

tarpaulin is determined by the strength of the fiber material and the density of the fabric.

Water resistance

Water resistance is one fo the key feature

of tarpaulin where through the dipping and

finishing process, cinyl chloride fat is filled in the gaps fo the fabric tissue to form a coating film.

Flame retardancy

This is known as well in tarpaulin. Flame

retardancy is achieved through the coating agent or the flame retardant fiber.

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_How did tarpaulin contribute to sustainability?

Canvas tarps are 100%

cotton. Hence, this makes them biodegradable.

However as for synthetic

tarps, it is often reused for another purpose in their lifetime.

Upcycling and recycling

Tarp are versatile material

in which it can be upcycled or recycled into another

product. Over the years,

tarps have been reworked into the things we own

today. From industrial use

to an everyday product like bags, outdoor gears and accessories.

Ikea, Frietag, 1773, M-24 are few of the many that incorporated recycled tarpaulin into their products.

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1733

In small volumes,

this Chicago based studio create bags and accessories

M-24

M-24 recycles used truck

tarpaulin into super tough

that are durable and

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unique, things that

last a lifetime.

durable bags.

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Freitag

For almost 30 years, the Freitag brothers have been making one-off pieces out of old truck tarps

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_The Freitag Brothers

Freitag is always known for it use of material in truck tarps. 90.61% of its product is either recycled or upcycled.

In terms of recycling, f.16

Frietag is all about extending the life of its incredible robust, waterrepellent material.

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B-stock: airbags, seat belts.

Recycled: PET fabrics and lining.

Upcycled: discarded truck tarps.

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New materials: mesh, padding, zippers, buckles, etc.

5. Confirming tarp safety 6. Disassembly 7. Washing 8. Drying

1. Truck spotting

2. Truck tarp removal

3. Extracting test samples

4. Testing constituents

final product.

transformed into a

are extracted and

how truck tarps

processes indicate

Frietag bag. The

up with a unique

process of coming

manufacturing

This is the

_Frietag production at a glance

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12. Quality Control

11. Sewing

10. Shipping to sewing partners

9. Bag design

15. Sale

14. Shippiing

13. Photography

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_How else Tarpaulin was being used?

In some cases, tarpaulin was

used for fashion as well. Dutch fashion designer Martijn van

Strien came up with a series of collection made of heavy-duty black tarpaulin.

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The series of coats explores the potential in integrating

very durable yet inexpensive materials with fast and

effective ways of putting them together. Each garment being made from a single piece of tarpaulin, with only straight

cuts and sealed seams, making it easy to be manufactured.

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Why tarpaulin?

‘For people to survive, they will need a protective outer layer which guards them from the harsh conditions of the every

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day life’, said Martijn f.20

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Why is Tarpaulin interesting?

I started focusing in functionality at one point in my life. Perhaps its because of of the lifestyle I was living, The constant thinking of having the perfect organiser and fit for my electronic tools, gadgets, durability in my clothing, a multitool that could benefit a person in any tight situation or even a backpack you can use for most occasions. Tarpaulin fits in this criteria where it holds many qualities; it’s strong, durable, long-lasting and waterproof. It could be a product that last a lifetime. Quality over quantity.

I imagine not many people who carries the FRAKTA Ikea bag even knew it was made of tarpaulin. And the bag, according to Ikea, is one of the most used bags in the world. It has become a multifunctional bag; from shopping, to moving, to doing the laudry or going to the beach. An iconic bag that paved the road for new creations from DIYers to luxury designers.

Hence, tarpaulin is one of the few materials that could be used for great purposes for both lifestyle and work. Having a way to be repurposed and be given a new life is a step to a never-ending function.

IH.

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