Degradation of PU coated tarps under ideal conditions

[ohhellokrollshow]

Hello there.

Just found your forum and it's a wealth of knowledge. After reading some posts here, I've decided to make my first Backpacking-quality hammock purchase a Dutchware netless. Any thoughts on their build quality?

I'm currently in the market for a tarp, and there seems to be a lot of selection as it relates to polyurethane coated tarps. Even many of the SilNylon offerings are still PU coated on one side.

What's all the business with degradation from hydrolysis of PU coated nylon? I understand that if I store a tarp damp, this is likely to happen, but would I expect to see any degradation of the PU coating from just normal storage and time? If I bought a brand new tarp, stored it in a closet, will I come back 5 years and find it degraded just due to time?

I realize this may sound more on the extreme, and eventually I will invest in a Cuban fiber tarp, but in the meantime, is there any value in investing in a PU coated tarp, even if it is a middle of the road Model?

Thanks again.

[MAD777]

I haven't bought a PU coated item in many, many years. But every one of them fell apart long before it should have.

I have tarps made of silnylon, spinnaker & Cuben. None have given me a lick of problems.

Put me in the "friends don't let friends buy PU" camp.

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[ohhellokrollshow]

My problem is that many of the SilNylon ones still have a PU coating on one side. I guess I will have to research and affordable SilNylon pure tarp.

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[Trail Runner]

There are a few vendors here that sell SilNylon & SilPoly tarps. All are well regarded.

[ohhellokrollshow]

Can you suggest a few that are of good quality?😀

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[BrianWillan]

My problem is that many of the SilNylon ones still have a PU coating on one side. I guess I will have to research and affordable SilNylon pure tarp.

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You are talking about the newer polyester based tarp fabric. The xenon fabric from dutchware is silicone on 1 side and PU coating on the other side. Ripstopbytheroll has SilPoly which is the same configuration. Their newest SilPoly XL is silicone on both sides of the fabric.

Cheers

Brian

[Trail Runner]

Can you suggest a few that are of good quality?

Click any of the following:

Arrowhead Equipment

Jacks 'R' Better

Underground Quilts

Warbonnet Outdoors

[Flash Grundelore]

I believe that you will find that most of the current sil-poly and sil-nylon tarps are incredibly durable. which cottage vendor's best is entirely a personal preference.

While I have seen plenty of PU coated fabrics deteriorate, I have a PU tarp [Probably from REI] that I purchased in the mid 70s. It shows no sign de-lamination at all.
I was able to renovate it with a silicon spray product from ATSKO
[scroll down past several articles and you will see one on the spray experience and a couple of pitches of the tarp]>>>
https://moosenutfalls.wordpress.com/tag/tents/

[100 Ton]

I have a nice camo PU coated tarp that I made over 12 years ago, and it is still perfectly fine (although admittedly heavy by today's standards). I used your run-of-the mill coated rip stop purchased at Jo Ann Fabrics. It's a shame actually, I really like the tarp, (11 ft X 9 ft), it's in great shape, but I am replacing it with a hex tarp that is less than 1/3 the weight. I suppose not all PU coatings are equal, but, I also doubt that anything I bought from Jo Ann Fabrics would be considered high end fabric.

I would not be too worried about degradation of any of the fabric options typical for these applications unless you left it in the sun for many, many hours.

[ohhellokrollshow]

It's not the fabric I'm concerned about, it's the PU coating. I don't want to by a PU coated tarp, and have the PU coating start flaking off just while sitting in storage.

My question is, does the PU coating on a tarp degrade if you get it wet and not dry it out properly, or does time and aging alone capable of degrading the coating?

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