by Aardvark » Fri 09 Feb, 2024 12:32 pm
Cordura is a synthetic material (liken it to plastic) The thread is waterproof but when woven as a fabric, water will go between threads unless it has a laminated coating. The thread is definitely harder wearing but the laminated coating will eventually fail due to folding, creasing, abrasion, age (therefore UV degrading) etc. It isn't impossible to renew the coating to some degree but it is difficult and messy and not very cost effective.
Core spun canvas is a cotton based fabric but can have a degree of synthetic thread woven into it for strength. Being cotton based it is able to absorb moisture as cotton (natural) is porous by nature. This allows it to absorb a waterproofing substance which makes the cotton swell and close gaps between threads. This can be done repeatedly through the life of the fabric.
A waterhead rating is determined by holding the fabric against a tube of water and determining how much water(measured by the length of the tube) it takes before moisture seeps through the fabric. It indicates the pressure needed to get the moisture through the fabric. You can kneel on a sheet of fabric (such as a tent floor) which puts pressure on it at one given point and depending on the waterhead rating, moisture might get through.
Ever on the search for a one ended stick.