The Most Common Uses of Waterproof TPU Fabric – Is It Right for Your Product?

Waterproof TPU fabrics bond a thermoplastic polyurethane membrane to a base textile, such as nylon or polyester fabric, to create a wide range of high-performing materials that maintain their flexibility yet are durable and waterproof.

Is TPU Coated Fabric Waterproof?

Yes, TPU coated fabric is indeed waterproof. This is largely due to the properties of Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). TPU has exceptional properties, such as resistance to oil, grease, and abrasion, while being elastic and transparent. The presence of connected hard and soft segments within TPU forms block copolymers. The hard segments, due to their polarity, have strong attractions, leading to a phase separation that contributes to TPU’s high elasticity. Its flexible chains provide elongation characteristics, rendering a material that shields against water without sacrificing its flexibility.

TPU’s Excellent Properties

Thermoplastic polyurethane materials have a long list of excellent properties. In addition to the properties mentioned above, TPU is also abrasion resistant, tear resistant, has excellent bending and tensile strength, large elongation break, low-temperature resistance, low long-term deformation rate, and is resistant to chemicals, ozone, oxygen, oil, and fuel. These characteristics combine to produce technical textiles that withstand extensive wear and environmental stressors across hundreds of applications. So, how do you know if it’s right for your application? Compare your needs with those of these common applications and TPU-coated textile properties to see if TPU is right for you.

Bladder Applications

TPU coated fabrics are UV resistant, can stand up to extreme weather and environmental conditions, and resist abrasions and punctures. Waterproof TPU fabrics combined with glued or welded seals, these fabrics have excellent air- and liquid-holding capability. This makes it ideal for bladder-type applications such as:

• inflatable watercraft and floatation devices,
• medical applications like inflatable mattresses, splints, and lifts,
• flexible storage tanks and bags for products like water, food (such as milk, wine, and oils), pharmaceutical products, and all types of fossil fuels
• environmental applications such as oil booms, barriers/berms, and flood and spill protection and control.

Bladders made from TPU coated textiles are strong enough for long term storage and transportation use.

Garment Applications

TPU coated fabrics maintain their flexibility while being waterproof and lightweight.  They can be used to manufacture dry suits, survival suits, outdoor wear, and other safety wear. Garments made with TPU fabrics are UV resistant. Plus, they resist chemicals, detergents, bodily fluids, abrasion, and puncture, keeping the wearer safe and making clean-up easy.

Tensioned Fabric Applications

TPU coated fabrics have excellent mechanical properties and UV resistance, making them perfect for applications requiring structural strength and being exposed to the elements. Smaller tensioned applications like shower trolleys, stretchers, lifting bags, hyperbaric chambers, buoyancy compensators, and conveyor belts, to name a few.

Industrial Applications of TPU Fabric

The high tensile and compression strengths, weldability, and chemical resistance of TPU coated textiles enable them to be used in more than just the usual fabric applications. The wide range of TPU coated textiles can be manufactured into antistatic oil seals, flexible ducting, bellows, curtains, pipe plugs, lifting bags, water weights, and anti-decubitus air cells, fast deployment tents.

Looking for technical textiles for your application? 

Your choice of a waterproof material can have a major impact on your final product. The team at Erez is here to help you develop your technical and product development strategies so that you can manufacture top products in your field.  Contact Erez to find a waterproof TPU textile that’s right for you.