PET Needle-Punched Nonwoven Geotextile

SIGMA PET needle-punched geotextile is a staple-fiber polyester (PET) nonwoven geotextile built to AASHTO M288. Polyester staple fiber is opened, carded, web-laid and needle-punched into a felt-like fabric for filtration, separation, drainage and protection. This pet nonwoven geotextile is anti-aging and UV-resistant, withstands soil chemicals, fuels and rot, and has high elongation so it conforms to uneven and irregular bases. Graded by installation survivability (Class 1–3), it is used for railway subgrade reinforcement, highway pavement maintenance, dyke protection, French drains and as a cushion over geomembrane liners — shipped direct from our factory.

AASHTO M288Needle-punched · ≥50% elong.Polyester (PET) · Nonwoven
PET Needle-Punched Nonwoven Geotextile

PET needle-punched nonwoven geotextile to AASHTO M288

SIGMA PET needle-punched geotextile is made from polyester staple fiber that is opened, carded, web-laid and needle-punched into a thick, felt-like sheet. This pet nonwoven geotextile is built to the AASHTO M288 standard and graded by installation survivability — Class 1 (most severe), Class 2 (default) and Class 3. It is anti-aging with very high resistance to ultraviolet radiation, so it is not easily degraded, and it resists soil chemicals, gasoline and diesel as well as rot.

How the polyester needle-punched fabric is made

The fabric follows the staple-fiber nonwoven route: polyester short fiber is opened, carded so the fibers intertwine, laid into a normalised and fixed web, and then bonded by needle-punching, where barbed needles draw fibers vertically through the web to lock the layers together. Because the bond is purely mechanical, the polyester needle punched geotextile has a uniform three-dimensional pore network and high elongation, and the PET polymer adds thermal stability — the fabric withstands temperatures up to about 230 °C while maintaining its structure and original physical properties.

Filtration, drainage, separation and protection

The needle-punched structure gives this polyester needle punched geotextile high flat (in-plane) drainage and vertical permeability, so it filters water while holding back soil fines — ideal as the wrap around a French drain, in subsurface drainage blankets, and as a cushion / protection layer over and under geomembrane liners. With high elongation under stress it conforms to uneven and irregular bases without tearing, which suits railway subgrade reinforcement, highway pavement maintenance, dyke protection, hydraulic-structure isolation, tunnels, sports halls and coastal beach, reclamation and environmental-protection projects.

PET vs PP — choosing the polymer

A polyester (PET) needle-punched fabric offers high creep resistance and excellent chemical and thermal stability, which is why PET is often preferred for demanding reinforcement, long-term load and warmer or chemically active environments. A polypropylene grade is lighter and usually lower cost and is well suited to general filtration and separation — compare it on our PP geotextile page, or see the full staple-fiber nonwoven geotextile range. For high-tensile reinforcement a woven fabric is the better choice; see our polyester-PP woven geotextile.

Installation and overlap

A pet nonwoven geotextile is unrolled over the prepared subgrade and overlapped at the joints — typically 300 mm on firm ground and 0.6–1 m or sewn seams on soft, wet soil — so the fabric stays continuous when backfill is placed. Material should be end-tipped onto the geotextile and spread without trafficking the bare fabric, and exposed edges covered promptly, since prolonged UV exposure reduces strength even though the polyester is UV-stabilised. As a wrap for a French drain the fabric is laid in the trench, the pipe and aggregate placed, and the fabric folded over the top with a generous overlap.

Choosing a class and sizing the filtration

AASHTO M288 sets filtration permittivity and apparent opening size (AOS) from the in-situ soil gradation and grades strength by survivability Class (1, 2 or 3) rather than by weight: Class 2 is the default, Class 1 for severe placement over coarse stone or soft subgrade, Class 3 for mild conditions. As the manufacturer we control the fiber and the needle-punch line, so each roll of PET needle-punched nonwoven geotextile is produced to a consistent gsm and tested to the M288 minimums. Tell us the soil, function and site severity and we will size the fabric and quote the same business day.

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Manufacturing

PET Needle-Punched Nonwoven Geotextile — Manufacturing

Shipping & packaging

PET Needle-Punched Nonwoven Geotextile — Shipping & packagingPET Needle-Punched Nonwoven Geotextile — Shipping & packagingPET Needle-Punched Nonwoven Geotextile — Shipping & packaging

Key features

  • PET needle-punched nonwoven geotextile to AASHTO M288
  • Anti-aging — high anti-ultraviolet ability, not easily degraded
  • High flat (in-plane) drainage and vertical permeability
  • High creep resistance and resistance to soil chemicals and fuels
  • High elongation conforms to uneven, irregular bases
  • Chemical-, fuel- and rot-resistant polyester staple fiber
  • High temperature resistance up to 230 °C — keeps structure and physical properties stable

Ideal for

  • Reinforcement of railway subgrade and highway pavement maintenance
  • Filter and wrap fabric for French drains and subsurface drainage
  • Separation and filtration beneath roads, paths and pavers
  • Protection of dykes, hydraulic-structure isolation and tunnels
  • Cushion / protection layer over and under geomembrane liners
  • Coastal beach, land reclamation and environmental-protection works
  • Sports halls and other building substructures

Specifications

PET Needle-Punched Nonwoven Geotextile (polyester) — AASHTO M288 minimum average roll values (MARV), elongation ≥50%.

PropertyTest MethodUnitClass 1Class 2 (default)Class 3
Grab strength (min.)ASTM D4632N900700500
Sewn seam strength (min.)ASTM D4632N810630450
Trapezoid tear strength (min.)ASTM D4533N350250180
CBR puncture strength (min.)ASTM D6241N19251375990
  • Class 2 is the default classification in the absence of site-specific information. Sewn seam strength must be ≥90% of grab strength.
  • Filtration / hydraulic (by soil gradation, ASTM D4491 permittivity): soil <15% passing 0.075 mm → min. 0.5 sec⁻¹; soil 15–50% → min. 0.2 sec⁻¹; soil >50% → min. 0.1 sec⁻¹.
  • Apparent Opening Size (AOS, max. avg., ASTM D4751): soil <15% passing 0.075 mm → 0.43 mm; 15–50% → 0.25 mm; >50% → 0.22 mm. UV stability (ASTM D4355): 50% retained after 500 hr.
  • Typical 350 g/m² protection / cushion grade (ASTM D5261 mass): grab 1420 N (D4632), CBR puncture 930 N (D6241), trapezoid tear 555 N (D4533), UV 50% retained after 500 hr (D4355).
  • Per-weight (gsm) strength values are manufacturer datasheet figures: On request. Roll width and length are order-specific and are not governed by AASHTO M288 — contact us for stock sizes.

Frequently asked questions

What standard is your PET needle-punched geotextile made to?

Our PET needle-punched nonwoven geotextile is manufactured to AASHTO M288, the standard specification for geosynthetics. AASHTO M288 grades the fabric by installation survivability — Class 1 (most severe), Class 2 (default) and Class 3 — with minimum average roll values for grab, sewn seam, trapezoid tear and CBR puncture strength, plus permittivity and AOS set by the soil gradation for filtration.

What is the difference between PET and PP needle-punched geotextile?

Both are needle-punched nonwoven fabrics under AASHTO M288. A polyester (PET) needle punched geotextile has higher creep resistance and excellent chemical and thermal stability; a polypropylene (PP) grade is lighter and usually lower cost. For demanding reinforcement and long-term load, PET is often preferred; for general filtration and separation either works.

Is PET nonwoven geotextile good for a French drain?

Yes — a pet nonwoven geotextile is a good filter fabric for a French drain. Its high permittivity lets water pass into the drain while the fabric filters out soil fines and prevents clogging. The required permittivity and apparent opening size are selected from the surrounding soil gradation per AASHTO M288.

How do I choose the right weight and class?

Class 2 is the default; step up to Class 1 for severe placement over coarse, angular stone or soft subgrade, and down to Class 3 for mild conditions. AASHTO M288 governs by survivability class rather than by mass per unit area. Tell us the soil, function and site severity and we will recommend a grade.

How temperature- and chemical-resistant is PET nonwoven geotextile?

Polyester (PET) needle-punched geotextile has high temperature resistance up to about 230 °C while maintaining its structure and original physical properties, plus high resistance to ultraviolet radiation so it is not easily degraded. It also resists corrosion from soil chemicals, gasoline and diesel and is rot- and mildew-resistant, which makes it well suited to warmer or chemically active ground.

What is the minimum order quantity and lead time?

As the manufacturer we run economic batches, so the minimum order quantity depends on the weight and width rather than a fixed roll count; standard grades carry a low MOQ while custom widths are made to order. Send us the class or gsm, roll width and total area and we will confirm the MOQ, stock availability and production lead time with the quote.

What roll widths and lengths are available?

Roll width and length are order-specific and are not governed by AASHTO M288. We hold common stock widths and can produce custom widths and lengths to suit the site and shipping container. Contact us with your required dimensions and we will confirm stock sizes and any made-to-order options.

How much does PET needle-punched geotextile cost?

PET needle-punched geotextile price depends mainly on the weight (gsm) / survivability class, roll width and order volume. As a manufacturer we quote ex-works per square metre or per roll; send us the class or gsm, total area and destination port and we will return a price the same business day.

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