Dejia PVC and TPU Boat Fabrics: Reliable Partners for Water Travel

During the navigation and berthing of ships, the use of boat cloth is of great importance. In the early days, natural fiber materials such as cotton canvas and linen were mainly used as boat cloth. Although these natural fiber fabrics are easy to obtain, they have disadvantages such as easy water absorption, easy abrasion, and poor UV resistance, making it difficult to meet the long – term use requirements of ships. With the development of chemical technology, boat cloth made of synthetic materials has gradually emerged. Among them, PVC and TPU boat cloth stand out with their excellent performance and have become the mainstream choices in the current market.

Product Details

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

Download TDS Technical Data Sheet for DEJIA Boat Fabric3306 1050gr/m2DownLoad Dejia

Product: -PVC plain weave double side coated Fabric3306 (DCW1050 1050gr/m2)

Application:

Boat fabric

Support Cloth ( DIN 6000 ) Polyester
Specification ( DIN EN 1049-2 ) 23*23 per inch(plain weave)
Yarn (d) ( DIN EN ISO 2060 ) 1000*1000 D
Type of Coating PVC coated on both sides
Total Weight ( DIN EN ISO 2286-2 ) 1050g/m2
Width ( DIN EN ISO 2286-1) UP TO 3.2M           (Common Width 2.04m)
Tensile strength ( DIN 53354 ) 3500/3200 N/5CM
Tear strength ( DIN 53356 ) 350/330N/5CM
Adhesion Strength 180/5cm
Low Temperature-No Crack At ( EN 1876/1 ) -40℃ to +70℃
Thickness 0.85±0.03mm
Flame Retardant NFPA701,M2,B1 as request

 

Packing: craft paper or PE foam, available with Hard Tube protection packing.

Features:

A: UV resistant, FR (NFPA701, B1, M2)

B: Cold resistant, Anti-Mildew

C: Glossy and Matt surface

D: Lacquered are available as requests

E: Color, weight can be customized

Note:These indicated technical data are based on average results. Due to production procedures deviations up to -5% can occur.All technical data are in accordance with the present standard of knowledge and give product information without legal binding. All data apply to new products. Applications suggested do not release the customer to test material for its intended application.

Ⅰ. Overview of PVC Boat FabricPVC boat fabric i.e., marine fabric primarily made from Polyvinyl Chloride (abbreviated as PVC). In practical applications, PVC is typically compounded with various additives such as stabilizers, lubricants, processing aids, pigments, and impact modifiers to enhance its properties. It is manufactured by coating a canvas base with a PVC-containing adhesive solution, resulting in a smooth surface with 100% waterproof performance. Compared to other material boat fabrics, such as traditional canvas, canvas is relatively durable but lacks good waterproofing. Prolonged contact with water causes it to absorb moisture, become heavy, and affect boat performance. Nylon boat fabric, while lightweight and strong, is deficient in abrasion resistance and UV resistance. In contrast, PVC boat fabric combines excellent waterproofing, abrasion resistance, UV resistance, and other advantages, making it an ideal choice for aquatic applications.

Ⅱ. Overview of TPU Boat Fabric TPU boat fabric primarily consists of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer (abbreviated as TPU). TPU is a block copolymer synthesized through step-growth polymerization from diisocyanates, polyols, and chain extenders. This material boasts outstanding properties such as high strength, high toughness, oil resistance, water resistance, and weather resistance. The manufacturing process for TPU boat fabric typically involves laminating or coating a TPU film onto a base fabric. The base fabric can also utilize high-strength fiber materials like polyester to enhance the overall mechanical properties. The characteristics of the TPU film impart excellent flexibility to the fabric, allowing it to remain soft even at low temperatures, facilitating folding and storage. Simultaneously, TPU offers exceptional tear resistance and hydrolysis resistance, enabling it to effectively withstand various external forces and water erosion in complex aquatic environments.

Ⅲ. Comparison and Highlighting Advantages of PVC vs. TPU Boat Fabric

Performance Indicator PVC Boat Fabric TPU Boat Fabric
Waterproofing Excellent waterproofing,100% waterproof. Excellent waterproofing,strong hydrolysis resistance. Better long-term waterproof durability after immersion.
Strength & Abrasion Resistance   Relatively high strength, excellent abrasion resistance, suitable for long-term friction scenarios. High strength, especially outstanding tear resistance, difficult to puncture with sharp objects.
Weather Resistance  Good weather resistance. Excellent weather resistance, stable performance under extreme conditions.
Flexibility Reduced flexibility at low temperatures; may require pre-heating. Remains flexible at low temperatures, easy to handle.

Ⅳ. Cost and Application Scenario Comparison

Comparison Item PVC Boat Fabric TPU Boat Fabric
 Cost                      Relatively lower production cost, price advantage for mass production. Expensive material, precise processes, higher cost.
 Application Scenarios    Widely used in standard inflatable boats, kayaks, boat covers, etc. Suitable for high-end water sports equipment, professional research vessel equipment, etc.

 Ⅴ. Advantages Over Other Boat Fabrics

1,Excellent Comprehensive PerformanceCompared to traditional canvas and nylon boat fabrics, PVC and TPU boat fabrics show significant improvements in waterproofing, abrasion resistance, weather resistance, and more. Traditional canvas is prone to water absorption and rotting, while nylon boat fabric has limited UV and abrasion resistance. PVC and TPU boat fabrics effectively overcome these shortcomings, providing more reliable protection for water activities.

2. Strong Processing AdaptabilityBoth fabrics can be processed through various techniques like cutting, sewing, and heat sealing to form marine products of different shapes and specifications. They also integrate well with printing processes, enabling personalized pattern designs to meet diverse user needs.

3, Long Service LifeOwing to their good wear resistance, aging resistance, and other properties, PVC and TPU boat fabrics generally have a longer lifespan than other material boat fabrics. This reduces the cost and hassle of frequent replacements, offering higher cost-effectiveness from a long-term usage perspective.  Ⅵ. Composition and Process Comparison of PVC vs. TPU Boat Fabric

Item PVC Boat Fabric TPU Boat Fabric
 Composition              Reinforcing Base Fabric Commonly polymer fiber scrims like polyester mesh, providing base strength. Base Fabric Often high-strength polyester fiber fabric, ensuring tensile strength and dimensional stability.
PVC Coating Imparts waterproofing, stain resistance, abrasion resistance, etc.; contains various additives to enhance performance. TPU Film Core functional layer providing high strength, high elasticity, weather resistance, waterproofing, hydrolysis resistance, etc.
Manufacturing Process   Traditional Process PVC film produced by calendering machine, printed by printer, back-coated by back coating machine, finally cut and processed. Lamination Process After pre-treatment, adhesive is applied, and TPU film is heat-pressed onto the base fabric.
Newer Process Base fabric printed first, then coated with light/dark PVC on front/back. Coating Process TPU pellets are melted, extruded onto the base fabric surface, and heated for curing.

  Ⅶ. Manufacturing Process Flow Comparison of PVC vs. TPU Boat Fabric

Manufacturing Stage                                      PVC Boat Fabric Process Flow TPU Boat Fabric Process Flow
Preparation Stage  Select suitable base fabric, inspect quality, choose yarn density and weight per unit area (grammage) as needed. Lamination process Clean and cut base fabric, control dimensional accuracy. Cut TPU film and apply adhesive
Coating process Clean and cut base fabric, control dimensional accuracy. Melt TPU raw material.
Forming Stage            Prepare PVC adhesive solution, coat onto both sides of the base fabric, multiple coatings ensure performance. If printing is required, it is done after coating. Lamination Process Use heat-pressing equipment to laminate TPU film to base fabric.
Coating Process Apply molten TPU using a doctor blade or roller coating equipment, then cool to form.
Post-Processing Stage   Heat and plasticize to fuse PVC with base fabric, cool for shaping, cut, sew, and process into finished products. Surface treatment to enhance printing or functional properties, then cut, sew, punch holes, etc., according to order requirements.

Ⅷ. Test Method Comparison for PVC vs. TPU Boat Fabric

PVC Boat Fabric Test Method TPU Boat Fabric Test Method
Spray Test Simulate rainfall and observe water penetration on the backside.  Dynamic Water Pressure Test Simulate water surface fluctuations by applying cyclic water pressure, observe leakage and deformation.
Hydrostatic Pressure Test Increase water pressure and record the pressure value when leakage occurs. Long-term Immersion Test After immersion, check for hydrolysis, swelling; compare hydrostatic pressure before and after immersion.
Tensile Strength Test Use a tensile testing machine to stretch the sample until break, record maximum force. Tear Resistance Test (Trouser Tear Test) Measure force required for complete tearing.
Tear Strength Test Use a specific shape sample, measure force required to tear. Bursting Strength Test Use a spherical plunger to press against a circular sample, record bursting pressure.
UV Aging Test After UV exposure, observe changes in color, surface, and strength. Similar to PVC Boat Fabric testing, but with more stringent standards under extreme conditions due to superior performance.
Temperature & Humidity Resistance Test Detect performance changes under different temperature and humidity conditions.

Ⅸ. Common Specifications and Color Comparison for PVC vs. TPU Boat Fabric

Item  PVC Boat Fabric  TPU Boat Fabric
Weight 550gsm, 650gsm, 750gsm, 850gsm, 950gsm, 1050gsm, 1250gsm, 1450gsm, etc.

(Some of the boat manufacturers use 600, 700, 800gsm, the strength similar with 650, 750, 850gsm)

Adjusted based on base fabric and film thickness, no fixed standard, customizable
Width 1.5m, 1.55m, 2.04m, 2.18m, customizable Similar to PVC fabric, common 1.0 – 3.2 meters, customizable
Thickness 0.7mm, 0.9mm, 1.2mm, etc. Film typically 0.1 – 0.3mm, overall thickness depends on base fabric.
Common Colors Orange, Green, Blue, Black, etc. White, Grey, Transparent (for internal visibility), Custom color patterns

Boat Fabric PVC Dejia 2

PVC and TPU boat fabrics hold significant positions in the aquatic application field due to their respective unique performance advantages. Whether for the mass market seeking high cost-effectiveness or professional fields demanding ultimate performance, suitable options can be found to safeguard people’s water activities