"The fabrics used to make nets often have different weights. Buyers usually tend to think the heavier nets have a better quality, but that is not true,” explains Paolo Arrigoni (in the photo below), managing director of a leading company specialising in the production of high-resistance long-lasting nets and fabrics.
"Actually, in all the cases where excellent performances are needed, weight is considered a negative factor. Just think about racing cars – lighter materials like carbon fibre make vehicles more resistant and easier to handle. The same goes for human beings – heavier people rarely have a physical advantage on others who weigh less and are properly trained.”
“In the specific case of agricultural nets, the use of poor-quality polymers, high concentration of recycled material or processing with old plants leads to the production of heavier fabrics that actually have the same effect that can be achieved with lighter ones manufactured using first-choice polymers or state-of-the-art plants.”
Traction test comparison between Arrigoni fabric (fuchsia) and a competing product (blue) – the competing product has a lower resistance
"Our anti-insect net weighs 128 grams per square metre while the competing fabric weighs 147 grams. They have the same use but the latter is obese, i.e. it has a lower muscular strength as it is overwhelmed by a mass of useless flab. It lets less air pass through since its bigger mass reduces the number of holes per unit or, in other words, it is less porous.”
What is more, ‘overweight nets’ put more strain on the supporting structure because they move more when it is windy but are not more resistant and actually let less air through.
If we take into consideration an anti-insect net with 0.27x0.83 holes, the difference in fabric can heavily affect the passage of air (permeability) and the empty area of the net (porosity).
The chart below shows how the airflow (fuchsia) diminishes as the weight of the net increases. In particular, for threads thicker than 0.23 mm, the airflow is actually lower than what you would think.
Airflow through a fabric with different thread diameters. Airflow (fuchsia) and empty area (blue)
“If we compare the single-thread 0.23 mm fabric with a single-thread 0.25 mm one, we can see how the first one has an airflow of 43.4%, while the other only has a 34.4% airflow, meaning that the air passing through the first fabric is 26% more in nets. So, choose the lighter option for your crops too!”
For more information
Arrigoni SpA
Via Monte Prato 3
22029 Uggiate Trevano (CO)
Tel.: (+39) 031803200
Fax: (+39) 031803206
Email: info@arrigoni.it
www.arrigoni.it
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Paolo Arrigoni, Arrigoni:
"Nets must be slim in order to protect”"
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