Fibertex Nonwovens SA has recently collaborated with a leading construction company - through the supply of an eco-friendly geosynthetic solution, designed to combat soil erosion at a new solar power plant in South Africa.
“This project involved the supply of the Fibertex Greencell system and assistance with technical designs for the natural vegetated drainage channels constructed to keep water away from solar panel structures,” explains Riaan Rademeyer, Sales Engineer, Fibertex Nonwovens - specialists in nonwovens and performance-based materials. “Greencells are a cost-effective cellular containment system manufactured from UV stabilised, coated slit film woven geotextile strips, which are alternatively stitched to form a continuous honey-comb square mat.
“This Greencell cellular mat structure was filled with a 3% cement stabilised soil and is used to stabilise the base course and drainage canals at the power station. Advantages of the lightweight Greencell system are its tear resistance, ease of installation and long service life. Other notable features are resistance to the alkalinity of concrete and the flexibility of manufacture to exact specifications, including precise height, cell size, cell density and panel dimensions for specific installation.”
Fibertex Greencells are manufactured from woven polypropylene tapes coated with polyethylene, ensuring ultimate tensile strength at low elongation. Joints in the fabric are stitched with a high strength multi-filament polypropylene thread. Although cell walls are impermeable, they can be perforated to allow for the free drainage of liquids. One side of the structure is textured and the other side is smooth, thereby improving the friction and sheet strength of the concrete. As the material is allowed to deform in the vertical plane, it does not allow the blocks to punch through.
Fibertex specialists also recommend the installation of Fibertex SlopeSaver 292 – a biodegradable geojute, designed for use as a surface stabiliser for pre-vegetated slopes.
This environmentally-friendly product is manufactured from woven natural jute fibres, to form a mesh of approximately 10 mm x 10 mm in aperture, that is staked at 1 m² intervals. After installation, the jute eventually degrades into an organic mulch, by which time, the planted vegetation has developed its own rooting system.
Short term stability of the covered areas is achieved by planting a fast-growing form of vegetation, while long term stability of the covered area requires the planting of a deep-rooted form of vegetation.
Typical applications for Greencells and SlopeSavers include farm dams, embankments, river banks, sand dunes, base courses and canals, as well as protection of embankments on HDPE materials.
Fibertex Nonwovens manufactures an extensive range of geosynthetic products to suit various construction applications. The Fibertex geosynthetics range encompasses nonwoven and woven geotextiles, gabions and mattresses, drainage pipes, erosion control and cellular confinement solutions. The company also supplies soil reinforcing products, including geogrids and geocells, as well as geosynthetic clay liners as part of composite lining systems in modern landfills. The company’s continued focus on quality and a commitment to meeting exact customer needs, has led to significant expansion of business operations.
Global support guarantees the edge on product design, impeccable manufacturing standards, cost efficiency, safety and reliability of every material. Fibertex products are manufactured to consistent quality standards at all production facilities around the world.
Apart from the supply of high-quality products, Fibertex Nonwovens offers a dependable technical advisory and support service throughout Africa. The local team provides cost-effective solutions to design engineers and contractors, for innovative, efficient and safe use of all Fibertex materials.