Separating fill layers and subsoil in road works so that expensive aggregate does not sink into soft soil, efficiently draining filter trenches with hydraulic efficiency, and protecting geomembranes against puncturing by sharp stones, all under continuous static loads for decades, requires a polyester non-woven geotextile with low creep and chemical resistance to acidic soils. This polyester (PET) non-woven geotextile—also called filter fabric, PET geotextile blanket, or needle-punched filter fabric—is manufactured by MOLTEXO using needle-punched PET, in three weights (100, 200, and 400 g/m²) in white, in rolls 5.95 m wide and 100 m long, designed for road works, drainage, professional landscaping, and geomembrane protection in hydraulic projects.
Key Benefits
- Effective layer separation: prevents fine or expensive aggregate (gravel, base) from mixing with soft natural subsoil, maintaining the load-bearing capacity of the structure and extending the pavement's service life beyond typical years without geotextile.
- High-permeability filtration: the needle-punched structure of randomly oriented fibers allows continuous water flow while retaining fine soil particles (silts, fine sands), a critical condition for filter trenches and French drainage systems without fine particle migration to the drainage medium.
- PET with low creep under continuous loads: polyester maintains mechanical properties for years under static loads, a superior condition to standard PP for audited hydraulic projects with a declared service life of decades.
- Chemical and biological resistance: withstands degradation by typical soil acids and alkalis, does not rot, is not attacked by fungi, nor by rodents, conditions that rule out other organic solutions.
- Three weights for project scale: 100 g/m² for landscaping and light drainage, 200 g/m² for standard civil works and low-traffic roads, 400 g/m² for geomembrane protection and demanding audited hydraulic works.
Applications and typical uses
- Underground drainage systems, filter trenches, and French drains in civil and residential works.
- Road construction, access roads, and parking lots as a separation layer between subbase and soft subsoil.
- Protection of impermeable geomembranes (HDPE, LLDPE) in dams, landfills, and reservoirs against puncturing by stones.
- Gardening and landscaping under decorative gravel layers, mineral mulching, artificial turf, and pathways.
Quality and durability
An economical PET geotextile fails in two ways: the actual weight is lower than declared (resulting in insufficient filtration and puncturing failure upon contact with sharp stones), and the PET is low-grade recycled (leading to high creep and loss of mechanical properties within a few years under continuous load). MOLTEXO uses virgin needle-punched PET with calibrated weight, which distinguishes an auditable hydraulic construction geotextile fabric from a generic felt that fails after a few seasons.
A functional difference, not just a structural one. The non-woven looks like needle-punched felt with fibers oriented randomly, which yields high water permeability and filtration efficiency: it lets water through while retaining soil particles. It is the standard for drainage, separation and protection of geomembranes. The woven has orthogonal interlaced yarns with high tensile strength and lower permeability: it is used for structural reinforcement in road bases, mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls and platforms with heavy loads. The rule: if the problem is water and filtration, non-woven; if it is structural load, woven.
Not recommended for prolonged use. Polyester (PET) has moderate UV resistance, but direct Caribbean radiation degrades the material progressively: the fibers lose mechanical strength and the geotextile eventually turns brittle. Standard operating rule: cover with soil, gravel or pavement within 14-21 days of installation. For storage prior to installation, keep rolls in a sheltered area or covered with a dark tarp. UV degradation is cumulative: 30 continuous days at full sun reduce declared strength significantly.
No glue, no stitching: just overlap between edges. Standard rule: 30 cm for compact, stable soils; 50 cm or more for soft, clayey or boggy soils where the risk of fines migration is higher. The overlap is always laid in the direction of the project's main water flow (not against the flow, since pressure would lift the overlap). For zones with heavy traffic during construction, the overlap can be stapled or stitched at points to prevent displacement during the spreading of the upper aggregate.
Significantly high permeability — a critical condition for drainage. The needle-punched non-woven structure has continuous porosity that allows rapid water flow while retaining fine soil particles (silts, fine sands). This filtration+drainage combination is exactly what is needed in filter trenches, French drains, and saturated environments with hydrostatic pressure to be relieved. Without geotextile, the fines from the soil would migrate into the drainage system and clog it within months. With it, the trench drains for years, keeping its hydraulic evacuation capacity.
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| Type | Nonwoven filament |
|---|---|
| Material | Polyester |
| Tensile strength | 6 kN/m (411 lb/ft) |
| Grab strength | 300 N |
| Thickness | 0.8 mm (0.031 in) |
| Elongation | 30–80% |
| Tear resistance | 0.15 kN (33.7 lb) |
| CBR puncture resistance | 0.9 kN (202.3 lb) |
| Equivalent opening | 0.05 - 0.3 mm (0.002 - 0.012 in) |
| Roll: Width | 25.0 cm (9.84 in) |
|---|---|
| Roll: Height | 25.0 cm (9.84 in) |
| Roll: Depth | 600.0 cm (236.22 in) |
| Roll: Weight | 59.5 kg |
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