Wind whip
The rating is based on the fabric's ability to resist wind whip. Both samples were subjected to 60 mph winds. Shur-Tuff, on the left, resisted fraying and tearing much better than the laminated fabric on the right.
Tear strength
The rating is based on the fabric's strength to resist tearing. Shur-Tuff's base fabric has twice as many strands than most commonly used laminate materials. Also providing an advantage is the base fabric being woven in Shur-Tuff, compared to being layered in most laminates.
Abrasion resistance
Adhesion measures the strength of the bond between the base fabric and coating. Shur-Tuff uses an adhesive coat layer to create the highest adhesion strength possible. Strong adhesion helps resist wear due to wind whip. Laminates have good adhesion, but the construction of the base fabric combined with this adhesion actually lowers tear resistance. Shur-Tuff strikes an appropriate balance between adhesion and tear resistance.
Coating adhesion strength
Adhesion measures the strength of the bond between the base fabric and coating. Shur-Tuff uses an adhesive coat layer to create the highest adhesion strength possible. Strong adhesion helps resist wear due to wind whip. Laminates have good adhesion, but the construction of the base fabric combined with this adhesion actually lowers tear resistance. Shur-Tuff strikes an appropriate balance between adhesion and tear resistance.
Puncture testing
Puncture resistance plays a direct roll in preventing tears in your fabric. Since Shur-Tuff is made from tightly woven threads, there are little to no gaps between the yarns. This creates a higher puncture resistance. In laminate fabrics, the layered threads allow for more gaps between yarns making it more susceptible to punctures.
UV resistance
The PVC coating on Shur-Tuff is evenly spread across the base fabric and provides excellent UV protection. This helps prevent things such as color change or spotty fading of color on your fabric. Laminate fabric tends to be lighter in weight and has an uneven coating to protect against UV rays.
Adhesion strength
Adhesion measures the strength of the bond between the base fabric and coating. Shur-Tuff uses an adhesive coat layer to create the highest adhesion strength possible. Strong adhesion helps resist wear due to wind whip. Laminates have good adhesion, but the construction of the base fabric combined with this adhesion actually lowers tear resistance. Shur-Tuff strikes an appropriate balance between adhesion and tear resistance.
