Crystal 35…Cuben alternative ??????

Be interesting to see some test data.

Eg pull tests on tie outs.

UV resistance/degradataion

And HH like you've mentioned. HH new and with use. Perhaps you could send some samples to Richard and Roger, they both have testing apparatus that they've tested numerous fabrics on already, good to compare on exactly the same equipment.

The price sounds good for a small decrease in weight on silnylon. Non stretch is also interesting.

Will work on that good ideas

The PU coating also has UV protection, so leaving thebmini tarp out for a few months to test.

I dont have any high-tec equipment but these are close ups of the weave compared to other fabric. All at the same magnification.

Crystal 35

Ripstop Nylon Silnylon 3500hh

Ripstop Nylon Groundsheet PU coated 5000hh

DWR coated Pertex 4

Gary

Leaving it out for a few months is a good idea.

35 gsm = 1.03 oz/yd2

12 British Pounds = $18 USD

when you say it doesn't stretch, you mean when it changes temperature or gets wet? Regular nylon tent gets loose when you set them taut, then it gets cold or rains over night.

interesting product

"I can get the price to about £12 per meter."

Per linear meter (by 1.5 meters wide), or square meter?

Its 145cm wide and
Sold per meter in length the salvage is very small so you can use most of the fabric.

The weight is including the coatings, I think sometimes the USA fabric weights are without coatings,

The mini tarp has not stretched, as in pitch, temperature or in rain or at all, but there is zero give totally rigid, there is a tiny bit of give on the bias but not much, I think the coating as its crisp (think crisp packet or cuben) is binding the fibres.

Sews well with normal foot, sharps or 80 needle and sew all thread. As there is no stretch long seams so very well, but cutting has to be accurate.

Doesn't Frey when cut which is handy

:)

These are the tie outs after about 5 days, on taught pitch :)

H have another green 1m test piece on the way from China
I could post some samples out to people if you like.

Gary,

Any sense of its puncture and abrasion resistance? I am curious about its potential as a groundsheet or bath tub floor.

Thanks
Derrick

well it seems pretty tough
But its very noisy like cuben would be like sleeping on a crisp packet, not ideal
Havent done a water pressure test yet.

Its not very slippery tho due to PU coating.

this gives you an idea of thr noise

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s8xom3bg4o8ukxb/VID_20150421_121622.mp4?dl=0

Looks and sounds like the old spinnaker(poly) fabric from years ago.

Ryan

Yes it does a bit

This is nylon with a new weave and new coatings, but the sound and feel is similar.

There isn't much perspective in the OP photo to get a good idea of the size (other than you stating it was a 1M sheet), so when I saw the video you looked like a giant when you came into view.

Anyway, this looks interesting – I'd like to see how similar it is to spinnaker fabric, even though this is apparently a 'new' fabric.

well its been in the garden for some weeks now, and its just the same as when I pitched it, no stretch still waterproof in storms and winds.

So will start to make some tarp tents out of it now and see how it goes :)

Really interesting potential for more puncture/abrasion-resistant bathtub floors than 1.0 Cuben, and also dry bags. I'd buy some.
What are you using to seam seal?

Also, is it heat-sealable with an iron? Wondering about its potential for air mattresses.

I use marine goop (for UV protection) diluted with Mineral Spirits in the UK, as its a PU coating.

No idea if it is heat sealable ?

This is a 20D but they also have a 40D version same stuff, have some on its way for potential ground sheet.

Check this out a 1200dpi scan of the fabric compared with a known high quality 45gsm Silnylon 3500hh.

Sure that isn't Icarex, ripstop polyester?

Steve

Not that I am aware of

This is definitely nylon as specced from the manufacturer.

Just playing around in way to measure the fabric,

decided to dig out my old Russian bellows with ziess lens to see if I can get some macro shots :) back lighting and front lighting.

Just to conclude this thread
after testing for HH and other tests

I have come to the conclusion that Crystal 35 is not suitable for camping
its just too thin and coatings also too thin not supported.

Here is the report
https://goo.gl/JWHWoX Report

Dunno without seeing it in my hand, but it looks a bit shiny to me, which suggests it's acrylic coating. Acrylic coating is used to hold shape; it is NOT used as a waterproof coating!

Cheers