Geotextiles is an area of the technical textiles industry most of us probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about. It’s not as sexy as fashion or home décor, and not as visible as functional applications such as fire-retardant protective gear or bullet-proof vests.

Geotextiles, or geosynthetic materials, such as those manufactured by Glen Raven whom we recently wrote about, are used in large commercial construction projects, highway building, landslide repairs, and industrial sites such as energy production areas. Other common terms describing these materials include geonets, geogrids, and geotextile tubes.

These materials are primarily used for soil reinforcement, stabilizing weak soils, reinforcing retaining walls, and allowing design and construction of overly steep slopes by protecting them from soil erosion. They are permeable fabrics that have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect and/or drain soil and are typically made from polypropylene or polyester. They can be woven, needle-punched like felt, or heat-bonded like ironed felt.