Dean Wickoren ENVIROTUBE Technical Director Industrial Fabrics, Inc. dean@envirotubes.com 913-221-5345 (mobile) Resume and Accomplishments (over 40 years experience) Frequently Asked Questions

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Polypropylene vs Polyester

The most common geotextile tubes are made either out of monofilament polypropylene (PP) or multifilament polyester (PET)

Polypropylene

ENVIROTUBES made of polypropylene fabric are usually less expensive. This is still a very high-strength fabric but not as strong as the polyester. The polypropylene material usually dewaters better and faster than the polyester. The shape of the openings in the fabric pass water and retain solids very well. The polypropylene fabric is more like plastic window screen material. It floats and will not absorb water. It is lighter in weight, does not snag as easily and is generally easier to handle. Polypropylene has more resistance to UV and it not bothered by a high Ph.

Polypropylene Fabric Specifications

Polyester

Although polyester fabric is stronger, it is more expensive and usually more difficult to handle than polypropylene. it is used primarily for coastal and storm erosion protection applications. Polyester has been the fabric of choice of the US Army Corps of Engineers for beach or shoreline protection.

Handling the polyester fabric is like handling a big sweater. It will absorb water, is very heavy when it is wet, will sink, and also snags very easily and cannot be slid over rough ground or trash objects.

Polyester fabric has a very little long-term creep factor. When the tube is filled and left in place for a long term application, it holds its shape and strength very well. For long-term applications, the polyester fabric needs to be shrouded or protected in some manner from the sun and UV damage. Usually a low cost polypropylene nonwoven shroud is used. The polyester tube can also be covered with other things like sand, dirt, vegetation or rock. Vegetation will seed and grow through the fabric.