Sailcloth
Also known as: Sail canvas, Duck
Very heavy plain-weave fabric from cotton, linen or polyester; historically for sails, today for workwear and tents.
Description
Sailcloth is the heaviest expression of plain weave. Classic cotton sailcloth has thread densities of 20-40 threads/cm with very thick yarns (Ne 3-6), weights 350-800 g/m². It is a woven fabric. Historically sailcloth was made from hemp and linen, later from cotton (steamship era) and today mostly from polyester (Dacron) or aramid (Kevlar sails).
The hand is very stiff, the material extremely tear-resistant and dimensionally stable. Cotton sailcloth swells when wet and thus seals itself — this explains the historical use for sails and tents. Contemporary apparel uses are heavy chore jackets, workwear overalls, chaps and duffle bags.
A distinction is made between Segeltuch (heaviest plain weave, German term) and duck (US terminology for heavier canvases). The line to canvas is fluid: sailcloth usually denotes weights above 400 g/m² with particular tear strength. In fashion brands it is a retro material and reference to maritime clothing.
Properties
| Weave type | Plain (heavy) |
|---|---|
| Thread density | 20-40 threads/cm |
| Handle | Very stiff, tear-resistant |
| Use | Chore jackets, workwear, tents, sails |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Segeltuch Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segeltuch
- Textile Institute textileinstitute.org https://www.textileinstitute.org/
