Value Vinyls offers a wide variety of vinyl products designed for general and custom uses. There are a few determining factors when developing a product for a specific function, but the base fabric is what determines strength and aesthetics.
What is base fabric?
Essentially, our vinyl is composed of two main components; yarn and coating. The yarn is weaved in both warp (stationary) and weft (over-and-under) directions to make the base fabric.
To better understand base fabric, there are some terms you need to know.
- Polyester vs. Nylon
- Yarn Shape and Treatment
- Denier
- Base Fabric Count
Polyester vs. Nylon
Polyester and nylon are both synthetic fibers but from a cost standpoint, polyester is cheaper to produce, making it more common on the market than nylon products. Most of our products are made from polyester yarn.
Yarn Shape and Treatment
There are several different yarn shapes: flat, round, and high-twist.
- Flat yarn is organized in a flat configuration used to accomplish a smooth surface.
- Round yarn is organized in a round configuration, which increases tensile and tear strength.
- High-twist yarn is spun and then twisted, resulting in an increased tensile and tear strength above and beyond that of a round yarn.
Anti-wicking yarn is treated with an agent that aids moisture resistance. This eliminates mildew from forming in the yarn and is ideal for fabrics used in high moisture areas.
Denier
Denier is the unit of measure used to weigh yarn mass. The higher the weight, the stronger the yarn. Denier values range from 150 to 1500.
1 denier = 1 gram/9000 linear meters
Base Fabric Count
Base Fabric Count represents the number of yarns in the weft direction by the number of yarns in the warp direction, along with the denier of yarn in the weft direction by the denier of yarn in the warp direction. These counts are within one square inch. Example:
10 x 12 by 250 x 500
While the yarn count is a measurement of the number of yarns in a given area – how tightly the yarns are woven – the fabric density is another measurement indicating how much fiber is in a square inch, thereby allowing us to determine how strong and thick fabric is.
Want to know more? Let us help you with your vinyl needs, call 877-716-6651.
