- Material and Structure
*Raw materials
Fiberglass Geogrid: Glass fiber (inorganic material, mainly composed of silicate)
Polyester Geogrid: Polyester fiber (PET, organic polymer)
*Production process
Fiberglass Geogrid: Glass fibers are woven and then impregnated with asphalt or polymer coatings
Polyester Geogrid: High-strength polyester yarns can be warp knitted or welded into grids, and the surface can be covered with polymers
*Physical properties
Fiberglass Geogrid has high rigidity and great brittleness, and is not easy to bend
Polyester Geogrid has good flexibility and strong elasticity, and can adapt to deformation
- Key performance comparison
*Tensile Strength
Fiberglass Geogrid: 30kN/m-300kN/m
Polyester Geogrid: 20kN/m-1000kN/m
*Elongation
Fiberglass Geogrid has an extremely low elongation rate (≤3%), almost no elasticity
Polyester Geogrid is relatively high (13% – 15%), capable of absorbing deformation energy
*High-temperature resistance
Fiberglass Geogrid: excellent (Long-term temperature resistance >200℃)
Polyester Geogrid: average (softening point 230℃, long-term service ≤100℃)
*Acid and alkali resistance
Fiberglass Geogrid: resistant to strong acids and strong alkalis (stable glass composition)
Polyester Geogrid:resistant to weak acids and alkalis,but prone to hydrolysis in strong acid and alkali environments
*Creep resistance
Fiberglass Geogrid: average (prone to brittle fracture under long-term load)
Polyester Geogrid: excellent (strong resistance to long-term deformation)
*UV resistance
Fiberglass Geogrid relies on coating protection (prone to aging after damage)
Polyester Geogrid has excellent performance (with UV absorber added, long service life).
*Low fatigue resistance
Fiberglass Geogrid: low (prone to breakage under repeated loads)
Polyester Geogrid: high (flexible and resistant to dynamic loads)
3. Applicable scenarios
(1)The advantageous scenarios of fiberglass geogrid
*Asphalt pavement crack resistance
It is laid between asphalt layers to suppress reflective cracks by using high modulus (such as adding asphalt to old cement roads).
*High-temperature construction
The performance of hot-mixed asphalt laying is stable at 140-160℃.
*Reinforcement of rigid structures
Airport runways, concrete pavements and other projects that require high-rigidity supports.
(2)The advantageous scenarios of polyester geogrid
*Soft soil foundation reinforcement
Flexible adaptation to foundation deformation and reduction of settlement (for highway/railway subgrades and DAMS).
*Slope and retaining wall
High elongation disperses soil stress and prevents landslides.
*Long-term load-bearing project
It has strong creep resistance and is suitable for structures with high fill soil (such as landfill slopes).
4.Typical engineering cases
After the renovation of the old expressway (Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway), the reflective cracks were reduced by 80% after the asphalt layer was added.
Deep-sea soft foundation treatment (artificial island of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge), controlling settlement and enhancing the stability of the roadbed.
5.A one-sentence summary
*Fiberglass geogrid: High strength, crack resistance, high temperature resistance, suitable for asphalt pavement and rigid structure.
*Polyester geogrid:Flexible, creep-resistant, corrosion-resistant, suitable for soft foundation reinforcement and long-term engineering.
6.Pitfall Avoidance tips
*Fiberglass geogrid may become brittle due to “alkali precipitation” in a damp and alkaline environment, so an alkali-resistant coating model should be selected.
*Anti-corrosion layers need to be added to polyester geogrid in strong acid (such as pH<3) and strong alkali (such as pH>11) soils.
keywords: