DERFLEX supplies TPU coated nylon and TPU coated polyester fabric for manufacturers of inflatables, dry bags, flexible tanks, medical air systems, marine equipment and industrial products. The material can be specified around base textile, TPU chemistry, coating side, surface, welding method and end-use validation instead of buying by GSM alone.
Short answer: treat TPU fabric as a material system, not a commodity roll. A useful China factory comparison should cover the reinforcement textile, polyether or polyester TPU chemistry, one-side or two-side construction, coating or lamination route, welding compatibility, coating adhesion, roll tolerances and sample-to-bulk repeatability. For airtight or liquid-holding products, validate the finished seam and product geometry—not only the fabric sheet.
The finished performance changes when any one of these layers changes. That is why two “TPU fabrics” with the same nominal weight can behave very differently in cutting, welding, folding and service.
Nylon is commonly evaluated for soft folding and high strength-to-weight performance. Polyester is commonly evaluated for dimensional stability, lower stretch and predictable panel geometry. Denier, weave and yarn quality also matter.
Polyether TPU is often evaluated for moisture, water contact and hydrolysis exposure. Polyester TPU is often evaluated for abrasion, oil-related exposure and mechanically demanding environments. Confirm the actual service conditions before approval.
Single-side, double-side, coated and laminated constructions change sealing, stiffness, cleanability and processing. The intended HF, hot-air or heat-sealing route should be disclosed before sampling.
Use the table as a quotation framework. It is deliberately application-led; final values and tolerances should be confirmed on the selected grade and approved sample.
| Specification Area | Available Direction | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Base Fabric | Nylon or polyester; denier and weave selected by project | Controls tensile / tear behavior, stretch, folding and finished-product weight. |
| TPU Type | Polyether TPU / polyester TPU | Changes hydrolysis, abrasion, oil and environmental performance direction. |
| Surface Structure | Single-side or double-side coating; laminated TPU structures can also be reviewed | Changes barrier surfaces, seam design, cleanability and weight. |
| Total Weight | Lightweight through heavy industrial constructions according to project | Affects packing size, strength, cost, handling and weld energy. |
| TPU Layer / Thickness | Project-dependent; confirm on selected material | Influences stiffness, abrasion margin, air retention and processing window. |
| Roll Width | Standard and custom directions depending on construction and production arrangement | Wider rolls may reduce panel seams and cutting scrap. |
| Surface & Color | Matte, glossy, smooth, embossed or textured; standard and custom colors | Affects appearance, blocking, grip, cleanability and brand consistency. |
| Processing | HF welding, hot-air welding, heat sealing, lamination or project-specific conversion | Material must be qualified on the buyer’s actual joining process. |
| Functional Direction | Hydrolysis, abrasion, oil, UV, antimicrobial, flame-retardant or other requirements by project | Functions must be tied to a real test method and service environment. |
| Packing & Documentation | Roll format, labels, cartons / pallets, private label and agreed QC records | Supports repeat-order traceability and international receiving. |
No fixed MOQ, lead time, warranty or compliance claim is stated here because those items depend on the final specification and should be confirmed in the quotation.
Application should determine the specification. The matrix below is a practical starting point for sample selection—not a substitute for finished-product testing.
| Application | Starting Material Direction | Critical Validation |
|---|---|---|
| Inflatable boats, packrafts, air chambers | High-strength nylon or polyester; often double-side TPU; polyether direction commonly evaluated for water / hydrolysis exposure | Weld peel / burst, air retention, puncture, flex cycles, cold handling. |
| Dry bags & waterproof packs | Light-to-medium nylon or polyester; single- or double-side structure according to pattern and desired hand feel | Welding speed, seam appearance, foldability, abrasion, color consistency. |
| Medical air cushions / mattresses | Soft, cleanable TPU textile with application-specific surface and air-holding direction | Air retention, cleaning / disinfection exposure, seam reliability and required compliance. |
| Water tanks & flexible bladders | Reinforcement and TPU chemistry selected for contained media, pressure and contact duration | Liquid compatibility, seam strength, hydrolysis, fold and storage behavior. |
| Oil / industrial bladders | Polyester TPU direction may be evaluated where abrasion or oil-related exposure is important | Media compatibility, bond adhesion, seam integrity, abrasion and temperature. |
| Protective covers & industrial components | Polyester or nylon selected around dimensional stability, handling and surface durability | Abrasion, cleanability, chemical exposure, repeated folding and fastening stress. |
GSM combines the weight of textile and polymer but does not tell you the denier, weave, TPU chemistry, coating thickness, coating side, bonding route or surface finish. Compare a written construction plus performance tests, not only the total weight.
A factory page should show production control, not only a building photo. DERFLEX’s published Factory Tour lists an integrated manufacturing base and describes base fabric, coating / lamination, QC, engineering participation, sample validation and export execution as one production system.
A useful supplier asks about pressure, contained media, temperature, flex cycles, abrasion, cleaning, UV and the product’s failure mode before recommending a grade.
The factory should clearly discuss nylon vs polyester, polyether vs polyester TPU, one-side vs two-side and coating vs lamination without forcing one generic answer.
Approved material should be linked to a written specification, tolerance, color reference, surface requirement, roll format and QC plan before bulk production.
HF, hot-air and heat-sealing equipment behave differently. Trial the actual production surface, seam width and cooling behavior on the selected material.
Air retention, liquid compatibility, hydrolysis, peel, abrasion, UV or low-temperature tests should be selected because the product needs them—not because they look good on a catalog.
MOQ, roll length, lead time, labels, packing, palletization and documentation should be confirmed against the approved grade before the purchase order.
These materials overlap in applications, but they are not interchangeable. The right route depends on the finished-product geometry, processing equipment, service environment and market positioning.
Useful when a reinforced textile needs a thermoplastic sealing surface with flexibility, abrasion resistance and welded waterproof / airtight performance. Coating side and layer weight can be tuned by project.
Uses a TPU film bonded to textile. Lamination can support specific film thickness, surface appearance, hand feel and composite construction targets. Compare bond strength and processing behavior on the finished structure.
Often economical for heavy-duty covers, tents and industrial tarpaulins. It can be a strong choice when cost, wide heavy-duty constructions and conventional welding are more important than a PVC-free material direction.
Related material pages: TPU laminated fabric · PVC coated fabric · clear TPU film roll
These are real DERFLEX-hosted product images selected to support image search, material understanding and buyer evaluation.
Most sourcing problems start before the purchase order. Removing ambiguity at the RFQ and sample stages reduces avoidable trial-and-error.
For the broader technical roll-goods workflow, see DERFLEX’s TPU coated fabric manufacturer guide. For application-specific material, review TPU inflatable fabric and TPU dry bag fabric.
Direct answers to common sourcing, material and factory-evaluation questions.
TPU can create a continuous waterproof barrier on a reinforced textile. For a finished bag, bladder or inflatable product, waterproof or airtight performance also depends on seam design, welding parameters, valves, fittings and the final geometry.
No. Coated fabric applies a TPU layer to the textile, while laminated fabric bonds TPU film to the textile. Both can be suitable; the preferred route depends on film thickness, bond target, surface, hand feel, weight and processing requirements.
Neither is universally better. Nylon is often considered for flexible, high strength-to-weight products; polyester is often considered when dimensional stability and lower stretch matter. Denier, weave and TPU structure must also be compared.
Compare how clearly each factory converts your application into a specification, supports welding trials, defines tolerances, controls coating adhesion, documents sample approval and manages repeat-order consistency—not only quoted price.
TPU coated fabric is a reinforced technical textile made by applying thermoplastic polyurethane to a woven or knitted substrate such as nylon or polyester. The textile carries tensile and tear loads, while TPU provides the sealing surface, flexibility, abrasion protection and thermoplastic welding behavior.
Common uses include dry bags, waterproof backpacks, inflatable boats, air chambers, medical air cushions, flexible water or industrial bladders, marine safety products and protective industrial components.
Polyether TPU is commonly evaluated for water contact, humidity and hydrolysis exposure. Polyester TPU is commonly evaluated for abrasion, oil-related exposure and mechanical wear. The final selection should be confirmed against the actual environment and required test method.
Selected TPU structures can support HF welding, hot-air welding and heat sealing. The actual weld window depends on TPU chemistry, layer thickness, surface, seam design and equipment, so production trials on the approved material are important.
DERFLEX can discuss custom base textile, coating side, TPU direction, width, color, surface finish, roll length and packaging around the project. Feasibility and commercial terms should be confirmed after the specification is defined.
Send the finished product or application, contained media if any, expected pressure or load, service temperature, preferred substrate, one- or two-side TPU, target weight or thickness, required width, color, surface, welding method, quantity, destination and any required test or compliance standard.
Send DERFLEX the finished product, service environment and processing method. The team can review a practical material direction for sampling and quotation.
If some parameters are unknown, include a finished-product photo, reference sample or current material plus the performance problem you want to solve.