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TENT FABRICS

G Maheswaran, Asst.Prof, Dept. of Fashion Technology, Bannari Amman Institute of

Technology, Sathyamangalam.

Abstract

A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets offabric or other material draped

over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope.

There are various types of tent structures used according to the usage. And

also a variety of tent fabric were recommended according to the

environment it is used. A range of tent fabrics with varying quality

parameters were used to facilitate its performance. The selection of tent

fabrics plays a major role in users comfort. The various physical and

performance tests were to be conducted in selection of a tent fabric. The

tests are like flame-ability, air-permeability, water repellency etc... Now

days the new developed high performance tent fabrics were produced for

the enhancement of comfort usages.

Key words: Tents, Tent Fabrics, Properties, Selection, Tests, Next

generation tent fabrics

Introduction

Tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are

usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs. Tents are

used by recreational campers, and disaster victims. Tents are typically used

as overhead shelter for festivals, weddings, backyard parties, and major

corporate events. They are also used for excavation (construction) covers,

industrial shelters. Armies, all over the world, have long used tents as a

part of their working life. Tents are preferred by the military for their,

relatively, quick setup and take down times, compared to more traditional

shelters. The most common tent uses for the military are temporary

barracks (sleeping quarters), DFAC buildings (dining facilities), Forward

Operating Bases (FOBs), After Action Review (AAR), Tactical Operations

Center (TOC), Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) facilities, and

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security checkpoints1. Tents are often used in humanitarian emergencies,

such as war, earthquakes and fire. The primary choices of tents in

humanitarian emergencies are canvas tents, because a cotton canvas tent

allows functional breathability while serving the purpose of temporary

shelter. At times, however, these temporary shelters become a permanent

or semi-permanent home, especially for displaced people living in refugee

camps or shanty towns who can't return to their former home and for

whom no replacement homes are made available. Most global NGO's

maintain an emergency stockpile of tents strategically placed all over the

world to service their requirements. Due to its wide functional requirements

the properties of tent fabrics vary according to the environment and

purpose of usage. The general feature of a tent is shown in Fig.1.

Figure 1. General features of a tent

Tent Structures

In general, tents consist of poles which form a skeleton and over this

skeleton; theTent Fabric or skin is laid out to create an inner pocket. These

are the basic Tent Structures:

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Table.1. Different types of tent structures 9

Avian Tents

One or two straight poles with the Tent cover spread

out create a covered ground area. They are mostly

used for quick shelter and generally light weather

conditions.

Pyramid Tents

One central pole and the Tent cover pulled tight and

spread out around the center pole form a pyramid

shaped pocket. Pyramid Tents are rare in Hiking as

the center pole effectively divides the Tent in multiple

smaller compartments.Traditional A-Frame Tents

Two-legged frames at the outer ends of the Tent with

the Tent cover form a triangular pocket. Old

backpacking tents were often A-frame Tents. The

increased roominess of hoop tents and domes has

replaced most A-frame tents.

Modified A-Frame Tents

Add a ridgepole and a center hoop to the traditionalA-Frame to create a larger volume version of the

traditional A-frame pocket. Modified A-Frame tents are

also becoming rare in Hiking.

Hoop Tents

Use one to three hoops with the Tent cover to form a

tubular pocket. The curved walls give a bigger volume

with the same ground surface. Hoop Tents are

surprisingly strong as they divide pressure over the

full length of the hoops.

Wedge Tents

Two intersecting hoops with the Tent cover form a

square to round pocket. These tents are very popular

in Hiking as they combine great strength in

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combination with the least use of material and weight.

Dome Tents

Three or more intersecting hoops with the Tent cover

form a multi-faceted ground floor with a dome. The

added hoops give this tent increased strength incomparison to Wedge Tents. However, they are

mostly pretty difficult to erect. Most 4-Season tents

are domes with four intersecting hoops.

Tent fabrics

Tent fabrics may be made of many materials including cotton (canvas),

nylon, felt and polyester. Cotton absorbs water, so it can become very

heavy when wet, however the associated swelling tends to block any

minute holes so that wet cotton is more waterproof than dry cotton. Cotton

tents were often treated with paraffin to enhance water resistance. Nylon

and polyester are much lighter than cotton and do not absorb much water;

with suitable coatings they can be very waterproof, but they tend to

deteriorate over time due to a slow chemical breakdown caused by

ultraviolet light. The most common treatments to make fabric waterproof

are silicone impregnation or polyurethane coating. Since stitching makes

tiny holes in a fabric seams are often sealed or taped to block these holes

and maintain waterproofness, though in practice a carefully sewn seam can

be waterproof. Rain resistance is measured as a hydrostatic head in

millimeters (mm). This indicates the pressure of water needed to penetrate

a fabric. Heavy or wind-driven rain has a higher pressure than light rain.

Standing on a groundsheet increases the pressure on any waterunderneath. Fabric with a hydrostatic head rating of 1000 mm or less is

best regarded as shower resistant, with 1500 mm being usually suitable for

summer camping. Tents for year-round use generally have at least

2000 mm; expedition tents intended for extreme conditions are often rated

at 3000 mm. Where quoted, groundsheets may be rated for 5000 mm or

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The difference between rip stone nylon and regular nylon is the fact that

about every twelve or so stitches there is a heavier fabric that is woven in.

The purpose of this stitching is to prevent the spread of a tear. So if you are

one that likes to set up camp out in the middle of the woods instead of an

open clearing, you might want to consider rip stone nylon over regular

nylon.

Polyester

A material that is almost identical to nylon is polyester. The main difference

between polyester and nylon is that it resists UV damage better. Ultraviolet

damage weakens the strength of the material your tent is made of, this

happens to all materials. Hence it is often recommend that construct the

tents in shaded area instead of in an area of direct sunlight. This is a type

of modified polyester fabric has the strongest UV light inhibitor, which

means it has the greatest resistance to UV degeneration. UV-Tex 5 also has

a higher standard of resistance then other polyester fabrics but it is

identical in all other aspects to polyester.

Cotton Canvas

Before nylon was invented, cotton canvas was the material of choice by

many tent makers. Cotton canvas is an all weather material that is very

durable. Originally these tents were coated with an oily or waxing coating

to prevent water absorption. This coating still allowed the tent to breathe.

They rely on the rains surface tension between the fabric fibers to prevent

leaks.

Polyethylene

Though an entire tent is rarely made out of polyethylene you want to make

sure the floor of your tent is. Polyethylene is waterproof; water will not pass

through this material unless there is a hole. It is durable but it is also bulky

and rather heavy. It is also problematic to get this material back into its

original form once it has been open6.

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Types of fabric used in tents (4-Season only)

Table.2. Types of fabrics used in tents9

Manufacturer Inner wall Fly Floor

Mountain

HardwearNA

70D Nylon

Taffeta 1500mm

PU / SIL

70D Nylon

Taffeta 3000mm

PE

The North Face40D, 240 Nylon

Ripstop

75D, 185T

Polyester Ripstop

coated with

1500mm PU

70D, 210T Nylon

taffeta coated

with 5000mm PU

Eureka

70D Nylon

tafeeta,

uncoated

75D Stromshield

Polyester

Ripstop,

1800mm

70D Nylon

taffeta, 3000mm

Seirra Design NA

70D coated

Nylon taffeta

70D coated

Nylon taffeta

Black Diamond ToddTex single-wall fabric70 D Nylon

taffeta

Marmot40d 100% Nylon

Ripstop, F / R

40D 100% Nylon

Ripstop Silicone /

PU 1800mm

W/R, F/R

70D 100% Nylon

5000mm W/R,

F/R

MSR NA

40D X 238 T

Ripstop Nylon 6

1500mm

Polyurethane &

Silicone coated

70 X 190T

Taffeta Nylon 6

10000mm PU

coated

Hilleberg Breathable Kerlon 1800Treated with

waterproofing

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Where

ToddTex: A waterproof, breathable three-layer PTFE (Teflon)

laminate. Totally waterproof, windproof, and extremely breathable.

Kerlon: Waterproof and UV resistant fabric is similar in appearance tomost other silicon-treated, ripstop nylon fabrics. Siliconelastomere

coating on both sides of the fabric. Elastomere is rubber and Silicone

rubber as Siliconelastomere.

Ripstop: When you buy a fabric, the salesman makes one cut and

tears the piece with his bare hands but in Ripstop fabric its not

possible. Classic example is muslin from Dhaka. Ripstop fabric is a

woven, lightweight, nylon-threaded material that resists tearing and

ripping. Ripstop fabric is made by weaving nylon threads throughout

a base material in interlocking patterns. Many fabrics can be used to

make ripstop fabric, including cotton, silk, polyester, or

polypropylene, with nylon content limited to the crosshatched

threads that make the material tear-resistant. Nylon material itself is

not ripstop fabric unless it is reinforced with crosshatched threading.

Taffeta: Taffeta is a fabric weaving technique for e.g. Chiffon sarees.

Historically made from silk, but today can be made from many

different fibers, including artificial fibers like nylon. The term taffeta

comes from the Persian words for twisted and woven.

T: T stands for Thread Count specifically the number of warp

and weft threads in a square inch. The lower numbers represent a

loosely woven fabric and the higher number a tightly woven fabric.

These two numbers together help indicate the strength and feel of a

piece of fabric. Higher the number smaller is the gaps between the

threads9.

Selection of Tent Fabrics

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The actual Tent cloth or canvas has to protect the people from the wind

and the rain while remaining breathable. Selections of the tents are based

on (1) Type of protection needed (2) Performance features.

Single Wall Constructions: only have single layer of Tent cover. Thissingle cover has to take care of all the needed functionalities: water

and wind resistance, durability, breathability, etc. Tents are

manufactured in fabrics that deal adequately with water vapour.

Modern single skin tents are much more breathable than the older

generation. The modern construction allows moisture to escape, but

no moisture comes in. They are especially popular when it is

important to cut down on weight (e.g. when hiking) as it is much

lighter to carry only one layer of fabric. Single skin tents really come

into their own in high altitude mountaineering situations where a

simple design has massive advantages.

Double Wall Constructions: have an outer fly sheet and an inner Tent.

The fly sheet is waterproof and the inner Tent is breathable and

transports moisture to the outer fly sheet.It comprises the inner tent

the portion you live in plus the fly sheet, which creates a barrier

against the weather. This is a traditional method of manufacturing

tents: the outer prevents moisture from entering, while the inner

provides a breathable space for condensation to travel through it and

run off on the inside of the outer without coming in contact with the

occupants. This still offers an excellent combination of breathability,

compactness and affordability for most end users

Tent Fabrics can have the following characteristics:

Denier (d): It measures the weight of fabric in grams per 1000-meter

length. So for instance, 60d signifies a weight of 60 grams per 1000

meter of the thread used in the fabric. Lightweight fabrics would be

about 50d.

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Water resistance (psi): It measures the weight of water that can exert

pressure on a square inch of the fabric without leaking. It is

measured in pounds per square inch (psi). A good fly sheet would be

80psi.

Color: The fabric color will determine what light conditions are inside

the Tent and how well your Tent stands out against the surroundings.

Some common Features of tent covers:

Polyurethane Coating: This is coating applied on the tent fabric to

make it more durable and waterproof. Multiple number of coatings or

'passes' determine the added protection but at the cost of extra

weight.

Waterproof/breathable laminates: Tent cover uses a layering system

of different materials to form a strong and waterproof but breathable

fabric. Common laminates are GoreTex, ToddText, Klimate, and

MemBrain.

Ripstop: This is a polyester taffeta with thicker threads weaved into

the material at regular intervals. Thicker threads will prevent small

rips in the Tent to get worse. Clear Film: This is a see through material often used for windows and

skylights.

Single-needle Stitching Seams: These are seams with a single line of

stitches.

Double-needle Stitching Seams: These are seams with a double line

of stitches, stronger than single stitching.

Shed Seam: This forms a gully capable of transporting Tent down the

Tent11.

Tests for Tent cloths

Various tests should be carried out for the tent cloths according to their

specifications. Normally the fabric strength (tearing strength and tensile

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strength), Fabric weight with and without coatings or finishes, breathability,

water repellency and flame proof tests were carried out to assess its

performance. For example the 3916 tent fabric made by Seaman

Corporation is shown below.

Table.3. Tests for tent fabric8

TESTSSTANDRAD

METHODS

Finished coated Weight ASTM D751

Grab Tensile ASTM D751

Strip Tensile

ASTM D751

Procedure B

Tongue Tear ASTM D751

Trapezoid Tear ASTM D4533

AdhesionASTM D751

Dielectric Weld

Low Temperature ASTM D2136

Flame ResistanceNEPA 701(small)

CPAI 84

Hydrostatic ResistanceASTM D751

Procedure A

Dead Load

MIL-T-

52983E(modified)

Para 4.5.2.19

Technical Data Tencate Cotton

The TenCate Cotton line of tent fabrics offers tent manufacturers a choice

of high-grade materials for every application. With in the Cotton range, the

KD-22 is specifically suited for walling applications, the KD-24 and the KD-

48 for walling and roofing applications.

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Table.4.Technical Data of cotton tent fabrics9

Reference Test

method

KD-22 KD-38 KD-48 KD-24

Material - 100%cotton

100%cotton

100%cotton

100%cotton

Finish

-

Water-

and

dirtrepelle

nt

Water- and

dirtrepellen

t

Water-

and

dirtrepelle

nt

Water-

and

dirtrepelle

ntWidth ISO 22198 175cm 160am/205

cm

160cm 160cm

Weight (+/-

5%)

ISO 3801 210g/m2 280g/m2 310g/m2 340g/m2

Tensile

strength

ISO 13934-

1- - - -

Warp

(5cm)-

60 daN 70 daN 130 daN 80 daN

Weft (5cm) - 60 daN 80 daN 130 daN 80 daNTearing

strength

ISO 13937-

1- - - -

Warp(5cm)

- 1,2 daN 1,5daN 3,0 daN 2,0 daN

Weft (5cm) - 1,0 daN 1,5daN 2,5 daN 1,5 daNWater column ISO 811 25cm 30cm 40cm 40cmColour-

weather

fastness

ISO 105

BO4

4 4 4 4

Please note that if you combine materials, such as ground sheet, mud skirts, windows, zips, etc., then

you run the risk that these products may have an adverse effect on each other. This is your own

responsibility and we therefore advise you to carry out extensive tests before hand, if possible.

Next Generation Tents

New functionalities for tent cloth that are expected in the near feature

include the following value addition for enhancing the comfort levels and

performances of tents9.

Self-cleaning

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Insulating

Anti-mosquito

High visibility

Glow in the dark

Table. 5. Next Generation Tent Fabrics9

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Self-cleaning

By applying the special, self-cleaning finish the tent cloth will

remain as good as new. Dirt will not stick to the coated

fabric, and any dirt particles will be washed off the cloth

during a local shower.Insulating

3D-woven types of cloth will create an insulating layer of air

between the fabric on the inside and the outside of the tent.

As a result, it will stay refreshingly cool in summer and

pleasantly warm in spring and autumn.Anti-mosquito

A special finish that to people smells of lemon will keep

mosquitoes away from the tent cloth. This anti-mosquuito

finish is harmless to humans. Tents with this quality will be

extremely functional, particularly in the tropics and in humid

regions or war zones.High visibility

This quality, which makes the tent easily detectable, will

provide tent-users with high visibility in any circumstances,

especially in dangerous situations. The tent will be highly

visible both during the day and with directed lighting at

night. The retro-reflection will depend on the visibility value

of the fabrics finish.Glow in the dark

This special glow-in-the-dark finish will provide visibility at

night thanks to the sunlight it has absorbed during the day.

This visibility will depend on the glow value of the fabric.

Tents with this quality will be highly visible to the emergency

services (Red Cross, First Aiders) or army at any time of the

day or night. Childrens tents can be fitted with this

functionality on the inside, which at night will work like a

nightlight.

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Conclusion:The future of the camping world will be determined by new design and

innovative functionalities. As far as the design is concerned, the producers

of tents and tent extensions will be making increasing use of young

designers. Through constant innovation the camping industry will time and

again come up with new products and solutions.

References

1. About the US Army Soldier Systems Center

2. "SSC Developing Multiple Uses for Air Beam Shelter". Defense

Industry Daily.

2005-05-10. Retrieved 2007-12-25.3. "Shelter from the CB storm". Military Medical Technology.

2004-04-08. Archived

from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-12-25.

4. "Air Support: Inflatable Structures Pump Up the Military".

Military.com. 2005-01-01.

Retrieved 2007-12-25.

5. http://www.intentproductions.com

6. http://www.campersinfosource.com

7. Sports Trader Product Knowledge 2010 October/November

8. Tent Fabric Specifications Seamans Corporation, October,

2006

9. http://www.tencate.com

10. http://www.kumaontreks.com/tent-fabrics

11. http://www.abc-of-hiking.com/hiking-tents/tent-

materials.asp

http://www.natick.army.mil/about/index.htmhttp://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/ssc-developing-multiple-uses-for-airbeam-technology-0487/http://web.archive.org/web/20071011063439/http:/www.military-medical-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=438http://www.military-medical-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=438http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_Air,,00.htmlhttp://www.intentproductions.com/http://www.tencate.com/Pages/12632http://www.kumaontreks.com/tent-fabricshttp://www.natick.army.mil/about/index.htmhttp://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/ssc-developing-multiple-uses-for-airbeam-technology-0487/http://web.archive.org/web/20071011063439/http:/www.military-medical-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=438http://www.military-medical-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=438http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_Air,,00.htmlhttp://www.intentproductions.com/http://www.tencate.com/Pages/12632http://www.kumaontreks.com/tent-fabrics

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