Effect of hot-air temperature on the properties of high-strength and high-elongation geotextiles

Short-fiber needle punched nonwoven geotextiles are widely used in civil, hydraulic, and transportation engineering, owing to their simple production process and low cost. However, limitations in raw fiber materials and manufacturing processes lead to defects, such as loose structure and low strength. Currently, it is an urgent issue to develop a short-fiber needle punched geotextile with a tight structure, high strength, and elongation. In this study, polypropylene/ethylene-propylene side-by-side (PP/ES) fiber webs were prepared by needle punching and thermal bonding, offering a convenient, cost-effective, and scalable method of producing high-strength nonwoven geotextiles. In the work presented here, PP/ES fiber webs were prepared by needle punching reinforcement and thermal bonding, offering a convenient, cost-effective, and scalable method for producing high-strength nonwoven geotextiles. First, studying the fiber properties at different temperatures serves as a basis for understanding the performance changes of the geotextiles. Investigation of the resulting PP/ES geotextiles revealed that, under thermal bonding, PP fibers and ES fibers bonded with each other, forming a closely bonded fibrous network structure. Tensile strength testing revealed a tensile strength of PP/ES short-fiber nonwoven geotextiles of up to 1057 N, confirming excellent mechanical properties. Additionally, with an increase in thermal air bonding temperature and the addition of thermal press bonding, the effective aperture of the geotextiles decreased slightly, while the air permeability and vertical permeability coefficients remained at a minimum of 760 L/(m ² /s) and 3.11 mm/s, indicating favorable air and water permeability. This study provides an effective strategy for the preparation and application of high-strength nonwoven geotextiles.