Everything you need to know about Geotextiles

What are Geotextiles & why Plastisol is needed……

By definition, Geotextiles are permeable fabrics, which mean they allow water or gas to pass through them with ease.

When used in association with soil, Geotextiles take on more than one capability, having the ability to not only allow water or gas through, but through the process of; separation, filtration, reinforcement, protection or draining. Due to their durability and permeability, they are able to withstand both harsh weather conditions and even soften the ground for those who are on the clumsier side of things and tends to fall over.

Without even realising, Geotextiles have benefited an array of design and industries, whilst also being referred to as geosynthetics, supporting geotechnical (concerned with the engineering behaviour of earth materials) and environmental engineering (creating solutions that will protect and also improve the health of living organisms and improve the quality of the environment) design.

Whilst these fabrics are commonly used to stabilise or reinforce naturally occurring, raw materials such as soil they play a key role in our every day, especially for those who live in environments or countries with harsher weather conditions.

The utilisation of these materials support reinforcement when retaining walls, embankments, slopes and more, whilst also being used for items such as; snow fences or protecting roads from snowdrifts. The reason for this is due to the woven textile of Geotextiles being coated with PVC plastisol, creating further durability and also allowing colour to play a huge part in the use of the material.

Geotextiles and the use of Plastisol

As mentioned, Geotextiles are not solely used alone and they can often be coated with plastisol, a suspension of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or other polymer particles in a liquid plasticiser that flows as a liquid and can be poured into a heated mould.

Polyblend, a proud supplier of plastisol for Geotextile products, draws from our vast experience to tailor design geo-solutions to best meet our customer’s performance and economic requirements.

Requirements such as;

• Anti-Sag
• Oil Resistance
• Improved Weathering
• UV resistance
• Increased/decreased surface tension
• Anti-static
• Alkali-resistance
• Antimicrobial

As you’re reading this you may be aware of what requirements you may need, and whilst some companies take an overarching view of requirements, Polyblend takes an in-depth look at the article requirements and customer processing plant.

From there, perimeters are agreed with the customer in regards to rheology, hardness, and tensile properties to ensure smooth processing. At this stage, we also look at the desired product finish, for example, a gloss or matt finish, alongside any other special requirements to suit the correct environmental conditions. This is achieved through the application of specialist PVC resins.

So what other benefits does Plastisol have with Geotextiles?

The increased bond between Geotextiles & Plastisol

The bond between Plastisol and Geotextile fabrics is stronger than you may think, and without even realising Geotextiles wouldn’t be the same without the coating of Plastisol, here’s why;

Strength and Durability

Plastisol is most commonly used as a coating for geotextile fabrics because of its strength and durability. Not only able to withstand high levels of impact but also prevents corrosion of the material from harsh weather conditions. Think snow and rockfalls, storms and more.

Without a coating such as Plastisol, the Geotextile fabric wouldn’t be suitable for structures that are based outdoors, let alone in association with harsh weathers.

Why Polyblend?

As a supplier of plastisol, we have over 35 years of industry experience. Our commitment to world-class quality provides our customers with the confidence that the product delivered is as per their project specifications, ensuring performance and life-cycle costs are optimised.

Our superior technical support includes design and application suggestions to support design developments, construction and installation systems. Our comprehensive product design advice for projects can include plastisol stability analysis.

As with all development projects, we are always on hand every step of the way to give end-to-end technical support and advice, help with the process and product improvements, and provide on-site assistance with trials and process support.