29/04/2019
HOW TO PURCHASE WATERPROOF ZIPPERS: GUIDANCE& TIPS
Waterproof zippers that go through special treatment are mainly used to provide protection against the falling rain(splashing water). They are mainly used in such products as rain jackets, ski suits, snow jackets, diving suits, outdoor tents, raincoats, waterproof shoes, protective suits, luggage and bags, outdoor jackets, etc.
The easiest way to distinguish between a waterproof zipper and a regular zipper is by checking whether the tape fabric and teeth are covered. For waterproof zipers, the TPU coating film attached to the surface will cover the zipper teeth and fabric, making them “invisible”.
Categories Of Waterproof Zippers
Based on the coating materials and special treatment applied, waterproof zippers can be classified into:
imported PU waterproof zipers
TPU waterproof zippers
color film waterproof zips
reflective film waterproof zips
silver/gold film waterproof zips
printing series waterproof zips
Based on the manufacturing materials, waterproof zippers can be divided into:
Nylon waterproof zippers
plastic (Vislon/ derlin)waterproof zippers
metal waterproof zippers
Based on their function, waterproof zippers can be grouped into:
civil waterproof zips
industrial waterproof zips
100% waterproof and airtight zippers
TPU Waterproof Zips
TPU is an environmentally friendly high molecular polymer, which is regarded as a significant breakthrough in the application of waterproof and breathable fabrics. It is also referred to as the future material due to its excellent physical and chemical properties.
TPU waterproof zips gain more advantages in comparison with their PVC counterparts. They are not only waterproof but also breathable with good flexibility and resistance to low/high temperature [-40℃, 100℃].
Coated Waterproof Zippers
Coated waterproof zips are environmentally-friendly, soft and waterproof, featuring tolerance to low temperature (as low as minus 70℃).
Tips For Purchasing Waterproof Zippers
A lot of factors should be taken into consideration when you are purchasing waterproof zips, ranging from the application of these zips to the environmental protection.
Application
For heavy-duty tests that involve numerous pulling back and forth of the zips, you should select imported PU waterproof zips.
For better resistance to low/high temperature, you should choose imported PU waterproof zips [-80℃, 200℃] or TPU waterproof zip [-40℃to-50℃, 100℃-180℃].
For uniforms with safety signs, for example, the traffic police uniforms, you should choose reflective waterproof zips.
For custom-made fabric patterns/logo printing, you should pick the printing series waterproof zips.
Budget
Imported PU waterproof zips are the most expensive, followed by TPU waterproof zips. PVC waterproof zips are the cheapest among the three types.
Waterproof Effect
The width of central seam is closely related to the performance of waterproof zips. Extremely wide central seam will exert a negative effect on the waterproof effect.
Waterproof Film
The film won’t come off or tear easily regardless of exposure to low temperature or repeated washing. A high-quality film also guarantees a longer service life.
Color Difference/Color Fastness
Colored waterproof zips should feature minimum color difference. The color difference between the film and the zip tape should be controlled below 5%.
If you would like to achieve color uniformity on the surface with no turbidity point, we would recommend color film waterproof zips.
Apart from color difference, the color fastness of waterproof zips should also be taken into account when you are making a purchase.
