Laboratories are at the forefront of research and testing of vinyl coated polyester tarps, and each parameter requires specialized equipment to conduct various tests and analyses. Traditional laboratory equipment is often expensive and difficult to purchase, making it difficult for small PVC tarpaulin factories and PVC tarpaulin foreign trade companies to establish fully functional laboratories. However, in order to more intuitively understand the performance and quality of PVC coated tarpaulin materials, the FLFX tarpaulin manufacturer factory spent a lot of money and manpower to establish a PVC tarpaulin laboratory.
At present, the laboratory has more than 20 pieces of equipment and can detect more than 10 vinyl coated polyester tarp data: tensile resistance test, wrinkle resistance test, abrasion resistance test, color evaluation, temperature resistance test, flame retardant test, aging resistance test, water pressure resistance, printing test etc. Whether it is 550 GSM tarpaulin, 650 GSM tarpaulin, 750 gsm tarpaulin, 800GSM tarpaulin or 900GSM tarpaulin, we can understand the various properties of PVC tarpaulin materials at the first time. Each of these data determines the performance of polyvinyl coated tarp. Next, I will give you a brief introduction to FLFX’s PVC tarpaulin laboratory.
Tension Machine
The tensile machine is a machine that tests the tensile strength, tear strength and peel strength of PVC tarpaulin. These data can fully reflect whether the strength and quality of PVC vinyl tarpaulin materials meet the standards. For each order purchased by the customer, during the production period, our product quality inspectors will take some vinyl coated polyester tarps and test them on the tensile machine to see whether the data meets the customer’s standards.
Accelerated Weathering Tester
When PVC tarpaulin materials are exposed outdoors, almost all photodegradation is caused by ultraviolet light. The fluorescent lamp of the accelerated aging test machine simulates critical short-wave ultraviolet rays and truly reproduces the damage to physical properties caused by sunlight. Types of damage to vinyl coated polyester tarps caused by UV rays include discoloration, loss of gloss, chalking, cracking, crazing, fogging, blistering, embrittlement, loss of strength and oxidation.
To simulate outdoor weathering, an accelerated tester exposes polyvinyl tarp material to alternating cycles of UV rays and moisture at controlled high temperatures. It uses special fluorescent UV lamps in the UVA, UVB and UVC parts of the spectrum to simulate the effects of natural sunlight and artificial irradiance. It simulates dew and rain by condensing humidity and/or spraying water. This allows the 18 oz vinyl tarp material to be tested in a real outdoor environment for performance. It is the most realistic weather resistance tester in the world that simulates outdoor environments.
Xenon Test Chamrer
The Xenon Test Chamber is a desktop light fastness, color fastness and light stability test chamber whose xenon arc lamp provides the best match to full spectrum sunlight, reproducing the damage caused by full spectrum sunlight and rain. Heavy duty waterproof vinyl tarps exposed to direct sunlight outdoors experience maximum light intensity for only a few hours each day. The xenon test chamber can simulate exposing vinyl coated polyester tarp samples to sunlight equivalent to noon in summer 24 hours a day. Therefore, the degradation effect of PVC tarpaulin will be greatly accelerated.
Fabric Flame Retardant Tester
The flame retardant performance tester is used to measure the fire resistance effect of PVC tarpaulin fabric. The tester can provide a specific flame. Generally, the flame retardant grades of heavy duty waterproof vinyl tarps are divided into: B1, B2, M1, etc. After certification by the SGS organization, the flame retardant requirements can meet American standards and German standards. Generally, this flame retardant requirement must be informed to the PVC tarpaulin manufacturer before the custom made vinyl tarps.
Constant Temperature Drying Oven
The constant temperature drying oven can be used to simulate the performance of PVC tarpaulin materials in dry outdoor conditions. Its temperature can be set from 10℃~200℃ (50℉~392℉). Although the temperature resistance of vinyl tarpaulin material is -30℃~+70℃, it can maintain a good condition in this temperature range. However, in order to rigorously test the quality of polyvinyl tarps, it is also essential to test the temperature resistance of the material.
Flexibility Tester
The flex resistance testing machine is used to test the flex resistance of PVC coated fabrics at room temperature. One end of the polyvinyl tarp fabric is used as the inner side and the other end is used as the outer side and is bent back and forth. The number of bends is recorded when the test piece is damaged; Or set the number of bends and then take it out to observe the degree of damage. If you bend it back and forth a lot, like a truck tarp. Increasing the thickness and weight of PVC tarpaulin will greatly improve its flexural resistance.
Abrasion Resistance Tester
A wear resistance tester is used to test the wear resistance of the waterproof PVC tarpaulin surface. It can evaluate the PVC vinyl tarp material’s wear resistance by simulating the friction and wear of a thick vinyl tarp during actual use. Wear resistance refers to the wear resistance of vinyl coated tarp materials under the action of external forces such as friction and wear. Materials with good wear resistance are not easy to wear during use and can maintain their original performance and appearance.
Printing Press
The printer is used to test the printing effect of vinyl coated polyester tarp, aimed at some users who want to print patterns on the surface of PVC coated fabric. Of course, there are many types of printing nowadays. At present, we have dot matrix printers, inkjet printers, laser printers, etc. This printing test will be more common on PVC flex banner materials. Of course, we also produce PVC banner material rolls.
Color Assessment
The vinyl coated polyester tarp color evaluation cabinet simulates 6 different light sources (D65, TL84, CWF, TL83/U30, F, UV) and meets or exceeds the major international standards for visual color evaluation, including: ASTM D1729, ISO3664, DIN, ANSI, and BSI. The ultraviolet light wave part has a detection effect close to that of natural sunlight. Conduct a visual assessment of the color fastness of PVC canvas tarpaulin materials, color matching proofing, identification of color differences and fluorescent substances, etc., so that samples, production, quality inspection, and acceptance are conducted under the same standard light source, and the color deviation of the goods is accurately calibrated to ensure the color of the goods. The quality meets the requirements, thereby improving product quality.
PVC Film Proofing Machine
A PVC film proofing machine is used when producing heavy duty waterproof vinyl tarp using hot melt calendering technology. This is a smaller version of the calendering machine. It is mainly used for proofing and testing according to customer requirements for PVC film performance before orders are generated. Mix the supporting PVC resin raw materials and dye reagents in a proofing machine, and after 30 minutes of high-temperature rolling and stirring, a PVC film sample is initially formed. Sampling and observation, such operations and testing personnel will be repeated 15 to 20 times for later experimental testing. During this period, our R&D personnel will use a spectrophotometer to test the color quality of some samples and control the color difference within 0.01 according to customer requirements. Finally, the quality of the PVC film must meet the requirements. Submit the sample data to the production department to arrange production. PVC film can be directly used as PVC ceiling film and is a commonly used material for interior decoration.
* Calender machine
PVC Resin/ Additive
PVC coated tarpaulin fabric formula is mainly composed of PVC resin and additives. The additives are divided into heat stabilizer, lubricant, processing modifier, light stabilizer, PVC flame retardant additive, filler, anti-aging agent, colorant, etc. according to their functions. Different PVC chemical additives have essential factors for PVC vinyl tarpaulin so that vinyl tarp has good effect and performance in different application environments. Before making the PVC tarpaulin roll, we will add them in a certain proportion. The vinyl coated polyester tarp finally produced has certain characteristics.
