Geotextile Fabric

What Are Geotextile Fabrics Made Of?

Geotextile fabrics can be manufactured with either synthetic or natural fibers. Natural geotextiles such as jute and coir are usually woven and primarily used for soil erosion.

Non-Woven vs. Woven Geotextile Fabrics

Non-woven and woven geotextile fabrics are made from synthetic materials, but they have different properties that make them ideal for certain situations. The latter is usually semi-impermeable, extra durable and used in stabilization projects. Nonwoven geotextiles, on the other hand, are usually made from synthetic fibers via a needle-punching process and include polyester, polypropylene, and polyamide. They’re permeable, making it great for filtration and similar uses.

How Are Geotextiles Used Today?

Geotextiles are widely used in all sorts of applications and industries, including railway and road construction.

Geotextile Fabrics for Road Construction

One of the biggest benefits of using woven geotextile fabrics in road construction is that they help strengthen the soil’s structure. This enables roads to last longer. Quality material helps preserve the infrastructure and may delay the need for costly repairs. Geotextile fabrics can prevent potentially damaging and dangerous potholes, making roads safer for drivers and their vehicles.

Geotextile Fabrics for Railways

Non-woven geotextile fabric is used for railway stabilization as it can handle the heavy, frequent loads that come from trains. It lets water move freely through it, allowing for adequate drainage while preventing pooling.

Geotextile Fabrics for Driveways

Quality woven geotextile driveway fabric can prevent drainage issues, rutting and cracks in driveways while adding stabilization. The damage prevention also offers a cosmetic effect, potentially helping the driveway maintain its original look and condition.

Other popular uses for geotextiles include:

• Separating different types of soil
• Building retaining walls
• Reinforcement materials on steep slopes.
• Soil stabilization and filtration projects.
• Moisture barriers in pavement rehabilitation projects.

What Is the History of Geotextiles?

Geotextiles came into use around the 1950s, when they were still known as filter fabrics. Initially, they were used in soil erosion control projects by placing them under erosion control blocks, below stone ripraps, and behind concrete retention walls. Later on, they became useful for road construction projects.

Rhone Poulenc Company, a French company, made the first modern geotextile in 1968 when a nonwoven polyester geotextile was used in a dam construction project.

Is Geotextile Fabric Permeable?

Geotextile fabrics are permeable to gas and liquids, making them useful for filtering and separating materials.

Geotextile Fabric vs. Landscape Fabric

Geotextile and landscape fabric aren’t the same, although it’s easy to think how they might be. The primary goals of geotextile fabric are to let water pass through and maintain the structure of the protected soil. Landscape fabric prevents weeds from growing and infiltrating a garden while helping soil stay in place. Its durable stabilization properties also make it great for preventing heavier landscaping/hardscaping materials from shifting and sinking, such as when it's under gravel and rocks.