Sail Cloth Definitions
ASPECT RATIO:
The luff length of a sail divided by foot length. High Aspect sails are tall and
thin.
BIAS: A diagonal across a piece of fabric
at 45-degrees to the warp and fill.
COUNT:
The number of yarns per inch in the warp or fill of a cloth.
CREEP: The property of fibers to
gradually stretch under a constant load.
CRIMP:
Length or waviness added to a yarn when it is woven over-and-under in a piece of
fabric. Crimp can contribute to the elongation of a fabric under load.
CROSS-CUT:
A panel layout where seams run across the sail, perpendicular to the leech.
DACRON: Dupont’s trade name for
polyester fiber.
DENIER: A system for coding filament
yarns and fibers, with low numbers representing finer sizes and higher numbers
representing heavier yarns.
ELONGATION:
The difference between the length of a stretched sample and its initial length;
expressed in 1/100ths of an inch.
FIBER: Strand of material used to spin
into a yarn.
FILL: The yarn or fiber running across
the width of the fabric at right angles to the warp.
FLEX-STRENGTH:
The ability of a fiber to resist strength loss having been flexed back and forth
GSM: Weight in grams of a square meter of
cloth.
HAND: Softness or firmness of a fabric.
KEVLAR: Dupont’s trade name for a
family of high-strength aramid fibers.
LAMINATE: A layered fabric made by
bonding scrims and/or taffetas to one or two plies of film.
LSP: Name
for DIAX laminates using Pentex fibers.
MODULUS:
The measure of stretch or elasticity of a fabric. High Modulus = low stretch.
PENTEX:
Modified polyester with 250% less stretch.
POLYESTER:
A strong, reliable and inexpensive fiber ideal for cruising and low-tech racing
laminates, and woven sailcloth.
PRIMARY YARN DIRECTION:
The orientation (warp or fill) in which a fabric is the most stretch resistant.
RADIAL:
A panel layout where seams and panels radiate out from the corners of the sail.
SAILMAKERS (S.M OZ) WEIGHT: Weight of a
36" x 28.5" sample.
SCRIM: Non woven, formed sheet of yarns
held together with resin.
SPECTRA: A highly modified polyethylene
fiber developed by Allied Corp
TAFFETA:
A light woven fabric used on laminates to add durability and abrasion
resistance.
TENACITY: The breaking strength of a yarn or fabric stated in
force per unit of the cross-sectional area.
TENSILE STRENGTH: The ability of a fiber,
yarn or fabric to resist breaking under tension.
THREADLINE:
The direction of the yarns.
VECTRAN:
LCP fiber made by Hoechst Celanese
WARP: The yarn or fiber running the length of a fabric.
At
Liberty Sail and Canvas Loft we are
independent sailmakers, sail makers. Custom boat canvas and cleaning.
Custom cruising
sails and racing sails. Producing custom boat canvas
serving the Philadelphia, New Jersey Delaware Eastern Pennsylvania . We manufacture sail covers,
bimini tops, dodgers, boat tops, boat cushions and custom boat
canvas.