R&D efforts target more woven designs

	The PG-S50/100 model from Changzhou Tianma is a knitted geotextile made of fiberglass.

Makers are adopting various synthetic fibers to expand selections.

China’s geotextile suppliers are focusing product development on woven models with better tearing resistance and tensile strength. In the next six months, the line is expected to cover a wider range of applications.

Under the strategy, some large enterprises are cooperating with local universities and research institutions to improve manufacturing processes.

Companies project more demand for machine-woven fabrics, since these are three times more resistant to tear than nonwoven versions, especially those composed of long fibers. The common raw material options include PP, PE and fiberglass, which are generally stable and resistant to acid, alkali and salt.

Woven textiles also boast a higher California Bearing Ratio because of their more complex warp and weft structure. For instance, a 150gsm composite made of a polyester, PP and PA fibers has a bursting strength of 5kN. This is almost nine times higher than that of a nonwoven PE model of the same weight.

Also on hand are high-end versions composed of PVC and PE membranes woven with PP fiber. Typically used in dams and buildings to prevent soil erosion and seepage, these start at less than $1.50 per square meter.

Even as they are expanding woven selections, makers will continue to offer nonwoven types. Produced via needle punching or heat bonding, such construction fabrics are still in demand, especially for filtration purposes, since these generally have larger pore sizes. Their vertical permeability is roughly Kx(10-1 to 10-2).

Because of the rise in various building and construction projects in China, the majority of output currently goes to domestic buyers. The home market consumes an estimated 300 million square meters each year.

Most suppliers send less than 30 percent of turnout abroad, but many intend to strengthen overseas business in coming months.

Southeast Asia accounts for an estimated 40 percent of annual exports, with Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and South Korea among the top markets. The US absorbs 20 percent, while the EU takes in roughly 10 percent.

	This C-glass mesh from Zhejiang Yuanda comes in various colors and features a latex coat.

China-made geotextiles are generally designed for insulation, drainage, filtration and soil erosion prevention. Approximately 60 percent of output consists of woven types.

Quotes vary based on materials, production processes, applications and other features. Construction fabrics typically come in widths of 4 to 6m and lengths reaching 100m. Size specifications are also accepted.

Models below $1 per square meter are generally nonwoven types made of PE or PP fibers. These have a vertical permeability of about Kx(10-1 to 10-2).

Designs reaching $2.50 are composed of fiberglass or a mixture of PE and PP. Woven options are available as well.

Employing at least three different materials, high-end woven variants go for $2.51 to $4. These products target primarily special projects that have stricter and higher requirements on tearing strength and permeability.

Makers are not planning to implement steep price increases in coming months, since raw material costs are expected to remain stable. Between January and July, domestic short PE fiber ranged from $1,350 to $1,600 per ton. PVC and PP rates have generally remained the same at $1,150 and $1,800 per ton, respectively.

Some companies, however, are projecting quotes will rise by up to 5 percent should the yuan continue to appreciate against the US dollar.

China is home to roughly 200 to 300 suppliers of geotextiles, with half being export-oriented. More than 90 percent are privately-owned SMEs.

Makers cluster in the Yangtze River Delta region, which is a well-known textile production center. Their location is also advantageous, as it is easier to source raw materials.