Geotextile fabrics can significantly impact the long-term stability of construction sites and landscaping projects. Demand for geotextiles is increasing due to the rapid growth of the construction and agricultural industries. But what exactly is geotextile, and why are woven and non-woven material suppliers now trading geotextile fabrics at Damodar Menon International? Let’s find out.
Overview
Geotextile is a division of technical textiles and is gaining attention for various reasons. It is a particular type of permeable fabric made primarily of polyester and polypropylene in two different forms: woven and nonwoven (heat-bonded and needle-punched). Geotextiles are chiefly used to improve the property of soil in various civil engineering projects.
Geotextile fabrics gained popularity in the 1960s due to their versatile uses and numerous applications in construction projects, such as highways, railways, roadways, dams, retaining walls, and house development. Permeable fabrics contain tiny pores that enable liquids and gasses to pass through quickly. Therefore, geotextile fabrics are placed in the ground to cover the soil for reasons like draining water, reinforcing soil, maintaining properties of two different soils, and separating soil from each other. They can also filter and protect the soil
from contaminants.
These fabrics are quite rough and tough, known to endure a wide range of extremities. They are not only durable but can also withstand heavy pressure and weight. When something or someone falls on a geotextile, the fabric softens itself to resist the pressure and damage.
Fiber Used to Make Geotextiles
Geotextiles are primarily made from synthetic fibers like polyester and polypropylene. Synthetic fibers are used because, in most landscaping projects, geotextiles need to survive more than a hundred years. But they can also be produced using natural fibers like jute, flax, sisal, and coir. Natural geotextile fibers are generally taken in the form of jute nets, mulch, wood shavings, and paper strips. Natural fibers, being biodegradable, are intentionally
utilized to prevent soil erosion until vegetation grows in the area.
Most nonwoven fabric suppliers use synthetic fibers to produce geotextile fabrics using the needle-punching process. In addition to polyester (PSF) and polypropylene (PP), nonwoven synthetic geotextiles can also be made from polyamide (PA) and polyethylene (PE) fibers.
Properties of Synthetic and Natural Geotextile Fibers
– Based on the intended use, geotextiles may be woven or nonwoven.
– Nonwoven material suppliers randomly bond fibers, filaments, or other materials to create geotextiles, whereas these yarns, fibers, or filaments are interlaced together to make woven materials.
– Polyester fibers, which result from polymerization between ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate acid, have much higher strength modulus, chemical inertness, and skulk resistance, making them perfect for producing geotextile fabrics.
– They can last up to 50 years and possess very high resistance to UV radiation.
– Jute geotextile fabrics are biodegradable, but their lifespan can be extended up to 20 years through blending and treatments.
– Woven fabric suppliers can customize jute geotextile with specific porosity, permeability, transmissibility, and tenacity.
– The application of jute geotextile is based on environmental factors, like soil composition, water flow and quality, and water availability.
– Coir-based geotextile fabrics are incredibly durable and can resist saltwater damage, making them a perfect material for doormats, mattresses, and Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRM).
Applications of Geotextiles
Geotextiles are used in various construction, landscaping, and civil engineering projects. They help increase the strength of the soil and prevent soil erosion, ensuring a strong and favorable foundation. For instance, geotextile fabrics are used as a first layer when laying roads and highways. Some of the common uses of geotextile fabrics are as follows:
– Roadway construction
– Parking lots
– River, dam, canal, and coastal development
– Soil separation, filtration, and drainage
– Agriculture
– Railway development
– Prevention of soil erosion
– Retention of wall structures
– Reinforcements
– Embankments
Types of Geotextiles: Woven Geotextile Fabric
Woven geotextiles are produced by interlacing or intertwining two or more yarns or synthetic filaments at right angles, both crosswise and lengthwise, using a mechanical weaving tool. These fabrics are mainly used for construction purposes. When woven, geotextile fabrics offer resistance in both directions of their manufacturing process. The composition and characteristics of the strips involved in their creation typically result in materials with strong resistance and minimal deformation. This makes them ideal for reinforcing infrastructure
such as roads, slopes, walls, and foundations.
Woven geotextile fabrics can be further classified into three types:
– Single filament geotextile
– Multiple filament geotextile
– Short fiber yearn geotextile
Woven geotextiles can reinforce and stabilize any road and motorway construction site surface. They can be used to expand the surface in slopes, embankments, and green walls to increase stability. They are also used to protect rockfill, breakwave, and jetty structures. They allow better water drainage and distribution. At DMI, we are associated with woven fabric suppliers catering to geotextile buyers worldwide. You can buy high-quality products at the best deals from certified buyers.
Types of Geotextiles: Nonwoven Geotextile Fabric
Nonwoven geotextile fabrics are produced by bonding fibers together through needle punching or heat. Applying heat enhances the strength of the textile. They are used in landscaping projects that require filtration, protection, separation, and soil draining. Example: agriculture. Nonwoven geotextiles are more permeable with a high flow-through rate than woven geotextiles. While they may not be as strong as woven fabrics, nonwoven still make
an excellent choice for certain projects, like covering French drains, gravel driveways, road development in wet climates, and filtration of soils.
Nonwoven geotextiles are further classified into the following:
– Continuous filament heat bonded
– Continuous filament needle punched
– Resin bonded
– Staple needle punched
Nonwoven geotextiles effortlessly endure heavy loads, help prevent soil erosion and slopping, and are ideal for short-term reinforcements.
No matter what type of project you are on, Damodar Menon International is here to help. As one of the leading woven and nonwoven material suppliers of geotextile fabrics, our trading expert can assist you in choosing the right geotextile for your project from the right dealer. We can also help you connect with knitted geotextile, braided geotextile, and spun-bonded geotextile suppliers.
If you are searching for online buying and selling Textile fabric, TEXchange Global serves as the cornerstone for exports and imports, providing a platform for textile companies in India to connect and trade across international markets.
