Non-Woven Geotextiles & Woven Geotextiles : A Comparison
If you aren’t accustomed to the term Geotextiles, you have come to the right place. This guide will help you know the usage of these fabrics in different industrial applications. From construction, soil cohesion, engineering, clothing, and drainage to erosion control — geotextiles are extensively used for their resistance power against corrosion. Made from synthetic materials like polyester or polypropylene, they are installed to fortify roads. Amongst the available fabrics, geotextile fabrics have two primary varieties, named non-woven and woven.
An introduction to Non-woven Geotextile
Bonding fibers together, this type of geotextile is manufactured through a chemical process, heat, needle punching, and other procedures. You can understand from the name itself that it doesn’t involve any weaving. To strengthen its power, manufacturers apply the thermal treatment. However, these geotextiles break down more quickly than the woven geotextiles. Produced from synthetic textiles, these geotextiles are best used for separation or filtrations. Most industries use this geotextile to safeguard the geomembrane lining from the exterior and interior insertion.
Uses of Non-woven geotextiles
For its high water penetrability, non-woven geotextile is increasingly used in underground applications. Moreover, they are suitable for applications that emphasize separation, drainage, protection, and filtration. Since moisture can easily pass through these geotextiles, they can’t be used for reinforcement or stabilization projects. These geotextiles can be easily cut down; hence they are best used for several industrial implementations.
A short description of woven geotextile
As the name indicates, woven geotextiles are produced by uniformly incorporated slit films at the right angles. The unique manufacturing makes the fabric highly durable and highly performed. These geotextiles are best suited for every type of civil application, and their robust strength and high resistance are heavily used in long-lived applications.
Applications of woven geotextiles
The weaving films make these geotextiles perfect for drainage projects. Since these textiles are not that porous, they are best fitted for draining, roadway construction, and erosion control projects. Since these types of geotextiles protect from UV deterioration, they can be heavily applied for life-long projects.
Differentiation between Non-Woven Geotextiles & Woven Geotextiles
• It takes a handful of time to produce woven fabrics; thus, manufacturing is costly. On the other hand, non-woven geotextiles are economical since they can be made quickly.
• Woven geotextiles are assigned for their firmness, while non-wovens are best identified for their weight.
• Woven geotextiles have a plastic feel, whereas non-woven fabrics have a furry-like appearance.
• Woven geotextiles can be elongated between 5%-25%, whereas non-woven geotextiles have more than 50% elongation.
• Woven geotextiles are manufactured by weaving on a loom, while non-wovens fibers are produced by connecting the fibers.
Select the proper fabric for the geotechnical project installation
As discussed above, you have understood the importance of choosing the proper fabric for geotechnical application. At first, consider the project you will work on, then decide on using the appropriate type of matting.