Webbing
What Is Webbing?
It is a strong, closely woven fabric that can be distinguished by its material composition, strength variation, and width. The process of webbing involves yarns woven via looms to create strips. Webbing is often used in place of ropes. Hemp, linen, or cotton are the materials webbing is made of. Synthetic fibres like nylon, polypropylene, or polyester are also used in making webbing. In addition, Dyneema and Kevlar, the high-strength material, are also used for making webbing.
Standard Industry Applications
Web belts have wide industry applications, from military apparel to automotive parts to upholstery webbing. Webbing’s standard applications and associated industries are as follows:
- Hiking, backpack, and harnessing gear in the sporting good retail apparel industry
- Upholstery webbing (seat bases) in the furniture manufacturing industry.
- Seatbelts and harnesses in the automotive industry
- Uniform (suspenders) and accessories for professions like police and military
- Safety bands and tapes in hospital and medical industry
Webbing Materials
A few common webbing materials are nylon, polyester, and polypropylene. Out of these three, polyester and nylon have similar properties.
- Nylon Webbing.
Nylon webbing is commonly used for belt applications. It’s a high-strength elastic material that can stretch up to 2% of the webbing length when wet.
- Polyester Webbing
Polyester webbing is suitable for applications requiring lifting heavy loads. It is durable and is low in water absorption. In addition, it has more mildew and rot resistance in comparison to nylon. The typical applications of polyester webbing include racing harnesses and seatbelts.
- Polypropylene Webbing
This webbing is generally lighter, water-resistant, and fabricated with U.V. protection. It has outdoor applications. Window nets and plastic bags are fabricated with it.
Conclusion:
Webbing material must be inspected annually, specifically when it is used as a safety restraint application. Moreover, it is important to keep it clean and dry.
