Comparative statement for Non-Woven and Woven Geotextiles
considering its common important factors.
A survey report on the demand of Technical Textile materials by the
various end-users and the fiber properties with their values from
various manufacturers.
1. 1
BGMEA University of Fashion &
Technology
Course Code: TEX3200
Course Title: Technical Textile
Assignment
Comparative statement for Non-Woven and Woven Geotextiles
considering its common important factors.
A survey report on the demand of Technical Textile materials by the
various end-users and the fiber properties with their values from
various manufacturers.
Submitted By:
T. M. Ashikur Rahman
ID: 191-097-801
Sec- 2
2. 2
A comparative statement for Non-Woven and Woven Geotextiles considering
its common important factors.
The use of geotextiles has steadily grown over the past century. Geotextiles were initially
derived from existing textiles that were readily available on the market, such as carpet back and
upholstery fabric. Manufacturers have modified geotextiles to provide increased benefits to
roadway construction. While there are two main types (woven and nonwovens), there is often
still some confusion as to which product to use on your Jobsite. Common misconceptions about
the functions of a woven geotextile vs. a nonwoven geotextile can often lead to added confusion.
Woven geotextiles:
First-generation woven geotextiles were made of slit tapes. Slit tapes are extruded flat yarns
woven at 90-degree angles to yield a durable textile. Due to their wide smooth surface, they have
very poor water permittivity and low soil interaction properties. These factors make them a poor
choice for civil applications, especially in wet conditions.
Over time, the development of high-performance woven geotextiles has led to a more effective
material. These developments have improved flow rates and higher interaction coefficients,
making them much more suitable for civil applications by providing separation, confinement,
and reinforcement. They also allow for improved filtration and drainage.
Nonwoven Geotextiles:
Similar to woven, nonwoven geotextiles are made using a synthetic textile. However, they have a
more random structure which is produced by the interlocking of fibers. Woven and nonwovens
are used in similar applications, leading to confusion. The easiest way to identify the difference
3. 3
between a woven and nonwoven geotextile is by its physical attributes. Nonwoven geotextiles
look and feel like felt, with the characteristic "fuzzy" look to the material.
When it comes to the manufacturing of a nonwoven geotextile, there are many different methods
used today. The most common manufacturing method is by needle-punching. Needle-punched
nonwoven geotextiles are made by taking a large number of small fiber fibers and using a barbed
needle to interlock the fibers together. Nonwoven geotextiles are generally used to provide
separation, combined with filtration and drainage functions when used in a civil application.
The differences between woven and nonwoven geotextiles can be challenging to determine when
looking at material specifications. Generally, woven have higher strength values, while
nonwovens have higher flow rates and permittivity. The easiest way to distinguish the difference
between the two materials is by starting with elongation. Nonwovens will have much higher
elongation than a woven. A nonwoven specification will list the elongation as being greater than
50%, while a woven will be listed as between 5% and 25%; if listed at all.
The succeeding chart shows two examples of standard specifications for traditional woven and
nonwoven materials. There are significant differences regarding their elongation and
permittivity. However, tensile strengths are similar, given they are manufactured from similar
materials. All of these items are important to consider when choosing the correct type of
geotextile for your application. It's essential to make sure you are using the right product for the
right reasons.
Differences:
When looking at the differences between woven and nonwoven geotextiles, another point of
confusion is their weight. In both examples below, the weights are not listed. The weight of a
woven geotextile is hardly ever specified. The reason being that they are typically used to
provide separation and reinforcement, and are not dependent on the weight.
Conversely, the weight of a nonwoven geotextile is often specified, which is why you will
typically hear or say, “I am looking for an 8oz, 4oz, 10oz, etc.” For a long time, nonwoven
geotextiles have been measured by their weight, meaning the finished product would be 8oz per
square yard. The remainder of the specifications, which include the strength, puncture, etc.
would be a direct result of the product weight.
As the use of geotextiles has grown and developed, the manufacturing processes have changed as
well. Now, most nonwovens can be manufactured with a lighter weight and still achieve the
same strength properties, leading to reduced costs. There are always exceptions, such as in the
case of using nonwovens as cushion geotextiles underneath geo membranes. In such instances,
the puncture, weight, and thickness properties are more critical than the permittivity and strength
properties.
5. 5
A survey report on the demand of Technical Textile materials by the various
end-users and the fiber properties with their values from various
manufacturers
Technical textiles are defined as textile materials and products used primarily for their technical
performance and functional properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.
Other terms used for defining technical textiles include industrial textiles, functional textiles,
performance textiles, engineering textiles, invisible textiles and hi-tech textiles. Technical
textiles are used individually or as a component/part of another product. Technical textiles are
used individually to satisfy specific function such as fire retardant fabric for uniforms of firemen
and coated fabric to be used as awnings. As a component or part of another product, they are
used to enhance the strength, performance or other functional properties of that product as done
by the tyre cord fabrics in tyres and interlining in shirt collars. They are also used as accessories
in processes to manufacture other products like filter fabric in food industry or paper maker felt
in paper mills.
Global Demand and growth
The global demand for a variety of technical textiles has continuously increased as a result of
their rising base of applications in end‐use industries. Major end‐use industries are automotive,
construction, healthcare, protective clothing, agriculture, sports equipment/sportswear and
environmental protection. Increased demand for technical textiles will be seen in both the
developed and developing parts of the world. The global technical textile market is
geographically segmented into five key regions: North America, Latin America, Eastern and
Western Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa and Middle East.
Milestones in the development of technical textiles
Although the development of technical and industrial applications for textiles can be traced back
many years, a number of more recent milestones have marked the emergence of technical textiles
as we know them today. Very largely, these have centered upon new materials, new processes
and new applications.
Progress of Technical textiles in Global Market
Present market opportunities and in free quota regime, the prospects for the technical textiles
increasing to cater the needs of the requirements. Table 1 shows %age of technical textile
materials in the world during 2005. Out of which Filter clothing, furniture, hygiene medicals,
building & construction materials growth rates are very significant.
6. 6
With keep in mind the over all growth rate of technical textiles (4.0%).There are plenty of
opportunity for new entrepreneurs to step in to this market to gain their share.
Growth of textile material
In general the technical textiles are made in to fabric form from conventional weaving to
composite layers. It is interesting to note down that the nonwoven and composite production
methods has considerable market share, which is shown in the Table 2. This is due to relative
high production rates and suitability to the end uses.
Fibres for Technical Textiles
The usages of fibers in the technical textile area are not only the high functional fibres alone, but
also the natural (due to bio-degradability and compatibility) and common man-made fibres
occupied considerable share, which is shown in table 3.
7. 7
Applications areas of Technical Textile:
the leading international trade exhibition for technical textiles, Tech. textile (organized biennially
since the late 1980s by Messe Frankfurt in Germany and also in Osaka, Japan), defines 12 main
application areas:
• Agrotech: agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture and forestry
• Buildtech: building and construction
• Clothtech: technical components of footwear and clothing
• Geotech: geotextiles and civil engineering
• Hometech: technical components of furniture, household textiles and
• floorcoverings
• Indutech: filtration, conveying, cleaning and other industrial uses
• Meditech: hygiene and medical
• Mobiltech: automobiles, shipping, railways and aerospace
• Oekotech: environmental protection
• Packtech: packaging
• Protech: personal and property protection
• Sportech: sport and leisure.
Developments in fiber materials – natural fibers
Until early in the 20th century, the major fibers available for technical and industrial use were
cotton and various coarser vegetable fibers such as flax, jute and sisal. They were typically used
to manufacture heavy canvas-type products, ropes and twines, and were characterized by
relatively heavy weight, limited resistance to water and microbial/fungal attack as well as poor
flame retardancy. Some of the present-day regional patterns of technical textiles manufacturing
were established even then, for example Dundee, on the east coast of Scotland and located at the
center (then) of an important flax growing area as well as being a whaling port. Following the
discovery that whale oil could be used to lubricate the spinning of the relatively coarse jute fibers
then becoming available from the Indian subcontinent, jute fabrics were widely used for sacking,
furniture and carpet manufacturing, roofing felts, linoleum flooring, twine and a host of other
applications. Although its jute industry was to decline dramatically from a peak at around 1900
owing to competition from other materials as well as from cheaper imports, Dundee and the
surrounding industry subsequently become a nucleus for development of the UK polypropylene
industry in the 1960s. The then newly available polymer proved not only to be an ideal technical
substitute for the natural product but was also much more consistent in terms of its supply and
price. Traditional end-uses for sisal were similarly rapidly substituted throughout the established
rope, twine and net making centers of Europe and America
8. 8
Viscose rayon
The first commercially available synthetic fiber, viscose rayon, was developed around 1910 and
by the 1920s had made its mark as reinforcement material for tires and, subsequently, other
mechanical rubber goods such as drive belts, conveyors and hoses. Its relatively high uniformity,
tenacity and modulus (at least when kept dry within a rubber casing), combined with good
temperature resistance, proved ideal for the fast emerging automotive and industrial equipment
markets. At a much later stage of its lifecycle, other properties of viscose such as its good
absorbency and suitability for processing by paper industry-type wet laying techniques
contributed to its role as one of the earliest and most successful fibers used for nonwoven
processing, especially in disposable cleaning and hygiene end-uses.
Polyamide and polyester
Polyamide (nylon) fiber, first introduced in 1939, provided high strength and abrasion resistance,
good elasticity and uniformity as well as resistance to moisture. Its excellent energy absorbing
properties proved invaluable in a range of end-uses from climbing ropes to parachute fabrics and
spinnaker sails. Polyamide-reinforced tires are still used much more extensively in developing
countries where the quality of road surfaces has traditionally been poor as well as in the
emerging market for offroad vehicles worldwide. This contrasts to Western Europe where
average road speeds are much greater and the heat-resistant properties of viscose are still valued.
From the 1950s onwards, the huge growth in world production of polyester, initially for apparel
and household textile applications, provided the incentive and economies of scale needed to
develop and engineer this fiber as a lower cost alternative to both viscose and polyamide in an
increasing range of technical applications.
Polyolefins
The development of polyolefin (mostly polypropylene but also some polyethylene) fibers as well
as tape and film yarns in the 1960s was another milestone in the development of technical
textiles. The low cost and easy processability of this fiber, combined with its low density and
good abrasion and moisture-resistant properties, have allowed its rapid introduction into a range
of applications such as sacks, bags and packaging, carpet backings and furniture linings as well
as ropes and netting. Many of these markets were directly taken over from jute and similar fibers
but newer end-uses have also been developed, including artificial sports surfaces. Properties of
the polyolefins such as their poor temperature resistance and complete hydrophobicity have been
turned to advantage in nonwovens.
9. 9
High Mechanical Performance Fiber
Carbon Fiber
The largest advantage in the use of carbon fiber reinforced composites is weight reduction
comparing to customary materials. Historically its price was so expensive that it was selectively
applied to high weight sensitive end-uses such as aero-space and some special sports goods.
With a technological progress for improving impact strength, they are now going to be widely
used for structural parts of commercial aircraft. Recently an increase in their consumption
amount for industrial fields has become significant by the combination effect of technological
progress in their application, lowering of fiber price and strong needs caused by social
environmental problems. Hence it is forecasted that its high annual growth rate will also be kept
in the future.
Glass and ceramics
Glass has, for many years, been one of the most underrated technical fibers. Used for many years
as a cheap insulating material as well as a reinforcement for relatively low performance plastics
(fiber glass) and (especially in the USA) roofing materials, glass is increasingly being recognized
as a sophisticated engineering material with excellent fire and heat-resistant properties. It is now
widely used in a variety of higher performance composite applications, including sealing
materials and rubber reinforcement, as well as filtration, protective clothing and packaging. The
potential adoption of high-volume glass-reinforced composite manufacturing techniques by the
automotive industry as a replacement for metal body parts and components, as well as by
manufacturing industry in general for all sorts of industrial and domestic equipment, promises
major new markets.
Properties of some fibers used in Technical Textiles are shown below:
Properties of Nylon Fiber
Fiber Type: Nylon
Heat: Melts at 419O F to 430O F.
Bleaches & Solvents: Will bleach. Degrades in mineral acids & oxidizing agents.
Acids & Alkalis: Insoluble in organic solvents Resists weak acids, inert to alkalis.
Hydrolyzed by strong acids
Abrasion: Excellent
Mildew, Aging & Sunlight: Excellent resistance to mildew and aging. Prolonged sun
exposure can cause degradation.
10. 10
Polyethylene Fiber Properties
Fiber Type: Polyethylene
Heat: Melts at 525O F
Bleaches & Solvents: Excellent
Acids & Alkalis: Excellent
Abrasion: Good to Poor
Mildew, Aging & Sunlight: Excellent resistance to mildew.
Fiber Type: Nylon
Density (g/cc): 1.14 g/cm3
Moisture Regain (%): 2.8 to 5.0
Elongation at Break (%): 17 to 45
Breaking Tenacity (g/denier) : 4.0 to 7.2
Initial Modulus (cN/tex) : 400
Thermal Shrinkage (@ 177 O C) : N/A
Melting Point (C/F) : 216 O C/419 O F
Fiber Type: Polyester (PET)
Density (g/cc): 1.38 g/cm3
Moisture Regain (%): 0.4
Elongation at Break (%): 15.3
Breaking Tenacity (g/denier) : 9.2
Initial Modulus (cN/tex) : 998
Thermal Shrinkage (@ 177O C) : 11.6
Melting Point (C/F) : 256 OC/493 OF
Fiber Type: Nomex
Density (g/cc): 1.38
Moisture Regain (%) : 4.5
Elongation at Break(%) : 28
Breaking Tenacity(g/Denier) : 4.9
Initial Modulus(cN/tex) : 839
Thermal Shrinkage(@ 1770 C) : 0.4, L.O.I: 29-30
Melting Point (C/F) : 3710C/7000F (Does not melt, begins to decompose)
11. 11
Conclusion
At present some 60% of all the textile products made worldwide employ fibers that were not yet
being marketed just fifty-sixty years ago, and there are estimates that 30% of the products sold
fifty years tram now have not even been invented yet. The fabrics of the future will be entirely
re-conceptualized; researchers all over the world have been quizzed about the products that will
be appearing on the market the coming decades, and their belief is that there will be materials
capable of repairing themselves when damaged, fabrics with built-in digital devices, smart
textiles with nano materials and much, much more. With textiles it will be possible offer
innovative solutions for global problems, such as pollution, health issues, transports, protection,
communication, and so on.
References:
Technical Textiles: An Over view - Fibre2Fashion
Technical Textiles And Their Applications
Technical Textile Market Size, Share Report, 2020-2027 (grandviewresearch.com)
Technical Textiles Market: Global Sales Analysis and Opportunity 2031 | FMI (futuremarketinsights.com)
Guide to technical textiles (with 10 useful resources) (onlineclothingstudy.com)