Poly-fabric welding in the production of Tarpaulin (tarp).

Tarpaulin (more commonly known as Tarp) is a specific sheet covering used in many outdoor recreation activities and industry. Manufactured from canvas or plastics it is waterproof/resistant and very tough.

People have wondered how this material is made so strong, especially the tarp’s designed for industrial applications such as: transporting goods such as chemicals or cars, sealing off hazardous areas (tarp does not ‘’breathe’’) or covering terraces from environmental damage whilst they are being built. 

Tarps due to the heavy wear and tear nature they will be exposed to, need to be designed to be both strong and flexible, but also be able to resist the effects of prolonged UV exposure to ensure a longer lifespan of the tarp material.

Below are some of the techniques used in the production of tarpaulin:

• Hot air welding is a technique used to raise the temperature of the tarp sections close to the weld point by the joint. Often this is used to join irregular shapes of poly-fabric. 
• Wedge Welding is used to seal thinner fabrics. With this technique, the speed, temperature and pressure of the welding process can be tightly controlled. Two pieces of tarp are placed on a heated wedge where the join is supposed to be, the fabric is pulled over the wedge, thus joining the two in an incredibly strong weld. 
• With Frequency Welding, high frequency electromagnetic waves raise the temperature of the tarp material. The plastic is softened, allowing for joining and then sealing of the materials. This is a quick process and can be localized easily for precision work.

Browse Tarps: http://www.a1tarps.com/