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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_sources images
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