Polypropylene (PP) Geotextile

PP geotextile is made from polypropylene fibres, a material with outstanding alkali resistance and very low density. In alkaline soil and water conditions it keeps its strength far better than polyester alternatives, and the low density means one roll covers more area - less handling and lower installed cost.

PP or PET? Decide on the chemistry first. Choose PP when the ground or pore water is alkaline - cement-stabilised subgrades, lime-treated soils, concrete contact zones, industrial sites with high-pH runoff - because polypropylene is chemically inert across the full pH range while polyester loses strength by hydrolysis above roughly pH 9. Choose PET where pH is neutral but the design is governed by long-term tensile load, because polyester creeps less under sustained stress. In neutral ground with heavy sustained load, PET is the stronger choice; in alkaline ground, PP is the only one that will still be performing in twenty years.

How to specify the grade. As with any nonwoven, unit weight drives everything else: 150 g/m2 suits light separation and landscaping drainage, 200-300 g/m2 is the working range for road separation and subsoil drainage, and 400-600 g/m2 is used where the fabric must resist puncture from coarse angular aggregate. Specify apparent opening size (AOS) against your soil grading so the fabric retains the particles it must, and permittivity against the flow it must pass. Send us both numbers from your design and we will match a grade rather than selling you the heaviest fabric in the range.

Installation notes. Panels are joined by overlap - 300 mm minimum on prepared subgrade, more on soft ground where the surface will deform - and can be sewn or thermally bonded where the placement sequence makes plain overlaps unreliable. Because polypropylene is hydrophobic and floats in water, lay PP fabric with care in wet trenches: weight the overlap until cover material is placed. Cover the fabric promptly after laying, since even UV-stabilised grades lose strength under prolonged exposure, and place a cushion lift before running tracked plant over it.

Standards and documentation. Our PP geotextile is tested to the methods buyers specify: grab tensile strength and elongation (ASTM D4632), trapezoidal tear (ASTM D4533), puncture (ASTM D4833 / D6241), apparent opening size (ASTM D4751) and permittivity (ASTM D4491), with UV retention reported for stabilised grades. Alkali resistance can be confirmed by immersion testing where the project specification demands it. Certificates are issued per production lot with roll traceability, and third-party inspection before shipment is available through SGS, BV or Intertek.

We produce PP geotextile in customizable weights and widths. Ask our team for a recommendation for your site conditions.

Tell us the soil pH, the design load and the drainage requirement - we will recommend the grade and confirm supply and lead time within 24 hours.