Mesh Fabrics: Properties and Applications

Mesh Fabrics: Properties and Applications

Knit mesh fabrics are materials comprised of evenly spaced openings that create a breathable effect in the textile. Mesh fabrics offer a versatile solution for a broad variety of industrial, commercial, and recreational applications.

 

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While all mesh fabrics share the same basic principle of an open-hole structure, there are multiple varieties in the market. Variations can include weight, width, color, finish and fiber content.

Two of the most common fibers/yarns used in the manufacturing of knit-mesh fabrics are nylon and polyester. These fibers and yarns have significant overlap, so it can often be difficult to determine which is most suitable for a specific case. Examining the properties of these materials can help designers determine the appropriate option for their application.

 

Mesh Fabric Properties

Nylon and polyester are both viable options for knitting mesh fabrics, and each is used to produce knitted mesh solutions for many different purposes. As synthetic fibers, nylon and polyester share several similar beneficial properties such as:

Durability

Lightweight

Easy to clean

Resistance to mildew

Tear resistance

Nylon vs. Polyester Mesh

While nylon and polyester share some traits, they are created in different ways:

Nylons are formed by extracting carbon-based molecules from organically formed resources such as petroleum or coal. These are combined into a larger polymer molecule using heat, resulting in a polyamide. The family of polyamides created in this way is known collectively as nylon.

Polyester is one of the most commonly used plastics. It is made by facilitating a chemical reaction between alcohol, a petroleum by-product, and carboxyl acid in a vacuum. This creates a polymer that can be stretched and made into fabrics.

When knitted into mesh fabrics, advantages include:

Nylon. Nylon mesh fabrics are used for applications that require versatility, durability, and strength. The innate chemical properties of this polyamide make its fibers resistant to wear from bending or stretching. Nylon has a smoother, softer feel than polyester, making it ideal for applications where comfort or aesthetics are essential. Both materials stretch, but the elastic properties of nylon are greater than those of polyester. Nylon is also hydrophilic, which means that it absorbs water. 

Polyester. Polyester mesh fabrics can be more easily dyed because they are hydrophobic—they repel water. As such, the material absorbs the pigments in the dye while expelling the water. This property also means polyester dries faster than nylon, making it ideal for marine environments. Polyester is also more naturally flame resistant than nylon, and also features a higher resistance to UV degradation. View all Polyester Mesh materials >>

Applications for Knitted Mesh Fabrics

Mesh fabrics are used broadly for varying purposes. The following industries rely on mesh fabrics:

Mesh fabrics are used to create products for activities such as sports, camping, hunting and fishing, and more. Examples of products and industries that incorporate this material include:

Golf simulator/impact screens and nets

Aquaculture

Tents and camping supplies

Pool/spa nets and filters

Protective sports netting (baseball, hockey, lacrosse, golf)

Polyester and nylon mesh fabrics have broad applications for safety equipment. These materials can also be designed to meet ANSI, ASTM, and AATCC requirements for specific uses. Examples of safety equipment made from mesh fabrics include:

Safety flags

High-visibility safety vests

Cut-resistant safety garments

 

Air, land, and water vehicles all rely on mesh fabrics for a range of purposes. Many of these applications require a material that can resist moisture, heat, sunlight, salt, or chemicals. Polyester and nylon mesh fabrics are found in equipment such as:

Seat-mounted literature pockets

Seat support/substrates

Safety harnesses

Cargo nets

Tarps

Aviation curtains

The inherent antimicrobial properties in some of Jason Mills’ polyester fabrics facilitate the usage of mesh fabrics in a broad spectrum of medical products. Some examples include:

Slings/patient lift systems

Mesh curtains

IV bag support mesh

Orthopedic braces

Jason Mills also has proprietary water repellent finishes available for medical equipment that will come in contact with exposed patient skin.

These fabrics are often useful in laminating and coating processes. Jason Mills offers fabrics specifically designed for this purpose ranging from 1.5 – 15 ounces per square yard. In a similar vein, we offer a full range of screen filters.

The term “industrial” covers mesh fabric products used in applications ranging from transportation to cleaning. Examples include:

Mops and squeegees

Tarps

Bags

Conduit sleeves

Industrial filtration

Quality Mesh Fabrics from Jason Mills

Jason Mills has been providing industrial strength knitted mesh fabrics for more than 40 years. We support industries ranging from manufacturing to sporting goods and everything in between. If one of our stock fabrics doesn’t work for you, we’ll gladly research and design a mesh specifically for your application.

For more information on our mesh fabrics or our capabilities, please contact us.

 

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Best Tent Material: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing

What is the best tent material to buy?

The answer is simple…It all comes down to the kind of camping trips you’ll be going on.

Planning a backpacking trip? Weight will be at the top of your list of priorities.

Car camping? You might be more concerned about breathability and UV resistance.

Going camping in rough terrain? You’ll want to make sure your tent is made of a highly durable material.

Common camping tent materials you’re likely to come across in your search include:

Nylon

Polyester

Canvas

Polycotton

Cuben Fiber

In this article, I’m going to tell you what you need to know about the characteristics of each of these tent fabrics.

Once you know the pros and cons of each fabric, you should have a better idea of which one is best for you, based on your priorities.

Ready?

Let’s go!

 

 

Basic Information About Commonly Used Tent Fabrics

 

With all the different materials out there, it’s easy to get confused.

When you look up specific materials, you’ll often get a bunch of technical info that might as well be written in Swahili.

Let me simplify it for you.

Here are all the important things you should keep in mind about various materials when buying a tent, minus the technical jargon.

 

 

 

Nylon

 

The most common material you’ll encounter when looking at tents is nylon.

It’s a synthetic material, with a denier rating that indicates how thick it is. The thickness of the fabric will affect both the durability and UV resistance of your tent.

Nylon is generally the material of choice for backpackers, due to the fact that it’s so lightweight.

It’s also highly breathable. This is important because airflow prevents condensation from collecting inside your tent.

One thing that isn’t great about nylon fabric is that it’s highly absorbent. That means that it doesn’t offer great water resistance. If you anticipate rainy weather, it’s a good idea to apply waterproofing spray to your tent before you head off on your camping trip.

 

Ripstop Nylon

 

Ripstop nylon is a type of nylon that has ripstop threads woven into it, for added durability.

The advantage to getting a tent made of a ripstop material is that any small holes and tears won’t turn into big gaping holes over time. Thanks to the ripstop, the damage won’t get any worse, meaning your tent will ultimately last longer.

On the downside, ripstop nylon isn’t as lightweight as regular nylon.

Pros:

Lighter than polyester and much lighter than canvas

Stretchier than polyester

Good breathability

Dries quicker than canvas, making it less prone to mildew

Cons:

Absorbs water

Less durable than polyester

Not as UV resistant as polyester

 

 

Polyester

 

 

Polyester is another synthetic material that is often used to make tents.

Like nylon, polyester fabrics also have a denier rating, depending on how thick they are.

Sometimes, a nylon tent will come with a polyester rain fly. This is because polyester doesn’t absorb as much water as nylon does, making it a better choice for wet weather.

Polyester fabric is also more durable than nylon.

Why use nylon at all, then?

Well, even though nylon is less durable, it still has a far better strength-to-weight ratio than polyester. It’s also stretchier, which means it won’t rip as easily when under stress.

Plus, the fact that it’s lighter than polyester makes it a much better choice for backpackers.

That being said, it’s worth noting that in recent years the strength-to-weight ratio of polyester has improved a lot.

Durability was once reserved for thicker polyester fabrics. Now, there are more and more lightweight polyester fabrics available that are impressively tough. For this reason, polyester tents are definitely on the rise.

 

Ripstop Polyester

 

Like nylon, polyester can also have ripstop fabric woven into it, for a stronger material.

This will also slow wear and tear, as any insignificant damage won’t get worse over time.

It does, however, also add to the overall weight of the tent.

Pros:

Better UV and water resistance than nylon

More durable than nylon

Also dries quicker than canvas, making it less prone to mildew

Cons:

Heavier than nylon

Not as breathable as nylon

Not as stretchy as nylon, making it more prone to tearing

 

 

Canvas

 

 

Canvas is made of cotton, which is a natural material, unlike nylon and polyester.

One of the advantages of a canvas tent is that cotton is more breathable than synthetic materials.

It also performs better when it comes to UV resistance.

That all makes it great at regulating the temperature inside your tent. A canvas tent will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, so you’ll always get a good night’s sleep.

On the other hand, it’s also heavier and far slower to dry. Unfortunately, this can lead to problems with mildew forming inside the tent.

The water resistance of a cotton canvas tent can be improved dramatically by weathering it. The process of weathering (or seasoning) your tent involves drenching it completely and letting it dry out. This can be done once, or several times, depending on the tent in question.

Note that if you get a canvas tent that has a PVC coating, you won’t need to weather it before you use it.

Finally, canvas tents are more expensive than most nylon and polyester tents.

Pros:

Great breathability

Better UV resistance than polyester or nylon

Solid water resistance when weathered or coated

Cons:

Heavier than polyester and nylon

Slower to dry than polyester and nylon, making it more susceptible to mildew

More expensive than polyester or nylon, in most cases

 

 

Polycotton

 

 

If you’re leaning towards canvas, consider polycotton canvas. Polycotton is a material that’s a blend of both polyester and cotton.

By combining the two, you end up with a fabric that has all the qualities of cotton, with better durability and mildew resistance.

Unfortunately, along with all the qualities, a polycotton tent also has all the disadvantages of cotton. It’s heavier than polyester or nylon, and is also more expensive.

Pros:

Very breathable

More durable than canvas

Cons:

Still heavier than polyester or nylon

Tends to be more expensive than polyester or nylon

 

 

Cuben Fiber

 

Cuben Fiber, also known as Dyneema Composite Fabric or DCF, is the newest addition to the tent materials family.

It’s incredibly lightweight with an unbelievable strength-to-weight ratio. And, get this: it’s waterproof. That’s right – it doesn’t absorb any water.

That makes it the ideal material for a backpacking tent.

What’s the catch? Well, it’s a pretty big one unfortunately. Cuben Fiber is far less resistant to wear and tear than any of the other materials we’ve talked about.

Tents made of this material can’t be expected to last nearly as long as tents made of nylon, polyester, canvas or polycotton.

That, and the fact that they aren’t by any means cheap, make Cuben Fiber tents the least economical option you can go for.

Pros:

Doesn’t absorb water, making it waterproof

Better strength-to-weight ratio than any other material

Excellent UV resistance

Cons:

Inferior durability

Seams prone to damage

More expensive than other materials

 

 

Nylon Vs. Polyester

 

 

Nylon and polyester are both synthetic materials. Still, there are several key differences between them.

For starters, nylon has a better strength-to-weight ratio. However, polyester has a much better strength-to-weight ratio today than it did in the past.

Nylon is also more breathable, and it’s stretchier. While some might argue that it’s stretchiness is a con, as it causes wrinkles in the fabric, this is just a minor aesthetic detail. The stretchiness of the fabric means it’s less likely to tear when it’s pulled out tightly.

A couple of things polyester has over nylon is that it absorbs less water and it’s slightly tougher.

Last but not least, it provides better UV resistance. Keep in mind, however, that in the long run this will have a lot more to do with the color and denier of the fabric than the type of fabric itself.

 

 

Canvas Vs. Nylon / Polyester

 

If your aim is to pack light, you’d be better off going for a tent made of a synthetic material such as nylon or polyester. Natural materials such as canvas tend to be significantly heavier.

If you’re car camping, this won’t be an issue. But, if you’re backpacking, you definitely want to avoid canvas.

Synthetic materials are also generally more resistant to tearing and mildew growth. However, canvas performs better when it comes to resisting UV ray damage and fading.

Canvas is also more breathable, meaning you’re less likely to have a problem with condensation inside your tent.

Despite being more breathable, it’s actually still a better insulator than nylon or polyester. This means it’ll keep you warmer when it’s cold and cooler when it’s hot.

A canvas tent will usually be pricier than a tent that’s made of nylon or polyester.

There are, however, also tents on the higher end of the price scale that are made of synthetic materials. These are 4 season and 5 season tents that are made to withstand extreme weather conditions.

 

 

The Final Verdict

 

Which fabric is the best? Well, as you can see, there isn’t one right answer. It all depends on what your top priorities are.

If you’re a backpacker looking for a lightweight tent that won’t weigh you down, nylon is definitely the way to go.

Extreme adventurers camping in rough terrain would probably be better off going for polyester.

Car campers can go for anything really, including canvas, which is an excellent choice if you don’t mind the extra weight.

Hopefully you’ve now got a clearer picture of what kind of tent is going to work for you.

Now, all that’s left to do is find a model you like. Check out our tent reviews (like this one on 4-person tents) to see some of the best tents on the market today.

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