| Raw Material & Structure |
Continuous polypropylene filaments extruded, drawn, laid randomly, & thermally bonded. |
Short cut (6-15 cm) polypropylene/polyester fibers carded, layered, & needle-punched or thermally bonded. |
| Primary Strength |
Very High Tensile Strength (MD & CD), High Puncture Resistance, High Tear Resistance. |
Moderate Tensile Strength, Moderate Puncture & Tear Resistance. |
| Strength Consistency |
Highly Uniform due to continuous filaments and homogeneous structure. |
Less Uniform; strength can vary more due to fiber entanglement and needlepunching. |
| Elongation at Break |
Lower Elongation (Generally < 50-80%), better dimensional stability. |
Higher Elongation (Often > 50-100%), more stretchy. |
| Filtration Efficiency |
Excellent & Predictable due to uniform, controlled pore structure. |
Good, but pore size distribution can be less uniform. More prone to blinding/clogging in fine soils. |
| Permeability (Flow) |
High & Consistent cross-plane and in-plane flow. |
Generally High, but can be slightly lower than filament at same weight; can compress more under load. |
| Durability (UV, Installation) |
Superior Resistance to UV degradation, abrasion, and puncture during installation. |
Good, but generally lower resistance to UV and mechanical damage than filament. |
| Conformability |
Good conformability to irregular surfaces. |
Excellent Conformability due to softer, bulkier structure. |
| Cost |
Higher initial cost due to more complex manufacturing. |
Lower initial cost. |
| Best Suited For |
Critical, high-stress applications: Landfill liners/caps, heavy separation/reinforcement, basal layers on soft soils, protection layers, demanding erosion control, under high loads. |
General separation, filtration, drainage: Road subgrades (less critical), drainage trenches, basic erosion control, landscape fabric, beneath lighter hardscapes. |
