Degradation of polypropylene geotextiles with different chemical stabilisations in marine environments. (20th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carneiro, José Ricardo; Morais, Miguel; Lopes, Maria de Lurdes
• Is Part Of: Construction & building materials. Volume 165(2018)
• Page Start: 877
• Page End: 886
• Publication Date: 2018-03-20
• Subjects: α confidence level -- C944 Chimassorb 944 -- Δt variation of thickness -- ΔμA variation of mass per unit area -- EML elongation at maximum load -- n number of specimens -- PP polypropylene -- RTS retained tensile strength -- s sample standard deviation -- t Student's t-distribution value -- t thickness -- T tensile strength -- tExposed thickness of exposed samples -- TExposed tensile strength of exposed samples -- tReference thickness of reference samples (undamaged) -- TReference tensile strength of reference samples (undamaged) -- μ population mean -- μA mass per unit area -- μA Exposed mass per unit area of exposed samples -- μA Reference mass per unit area of reference samples (undamaged) -- UV ultraviolet -- x sample mean; Geotextile -- Durability -- Weathering -- Seawater -- Chimassorb 944 -- Carbon black; Building materials -- Periodicals; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.01.067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0618

Abstract

Highlights: The exposure to weathering led to highest damage in the geotextiles. The weathering resistance of the geotextiles was highly enhanced by Chimassorb 944. Carbon black led to an additional protection of the geotextiles against weathering. The geotextiles had a good resistance against the action of seawater. The algae and dirt protected the geotextiles from UV-degradation (sunblind effect). Abstract: The geosynthetics applied in coastal engineering structures can be in contact with degradation agents capable of causing unwanted changes in their properties. In this work, three nonwoven polypropylene geotextiles with different stabilisation packages (different known amounts of Chimassorb 944 and carbon black) were exposed in situ to some degradation agents present in marine environments (weathering, seawater and action of tides). These exposures were carried out in Portugal (Archipelago of the Azores) and lasted for 36 months. The damage suffered by the geotextiles (in the different degradation tests) was evaluated quantitatively by monitoring changes in their physical (mass per unit area and thickness) and mechanical (tensile behaviour) properties. The results, among other findings, showed that: (1) weathering led to the highest damage in the geotextiles, (2) the weathering resistance of the geotextiles was highly enhanced by Chimassorb 944 and carbon black, (3) the geotextiles had a good resistance against the action of seawater and (4) the algae and dirt accumulated in the nonwoven structures during the exposure to the action of tides protected the geotextiles from UV-degradation (sunblind effect).