TEXTILES.ORG
Spray-on product promises new bonding alternative
3M has introduced its Geotextile Seaming Cylinder Spray Adhesive, a new method for seaming geotextile fabrics.
The new product announcement in an Aug. 23 press release said the adhesive is for geotextile usages including, but not limited to, erosion control, soil separation, and subgrade stabilization applications. The release described the adhesive as a “versatile, fast-tacking construction-grade spray adhesive with a unique wide-web spray pattern, ideal for bonding geotextile fabrics. With this innovative solution, installers of geotextile fabric can see time savings of more than 56% compared to sewing.”
The press release noted that the spray adhesive “lets contractors create quick, permanent bonds on many geotextile fabrics, and also provides a seam strength that outperforms the fabric strength for many commonly used fabrics in the construction industry.” The adhesive is packaged in a pre-pressurized cylinder for an easy-to-use, maintenance-free delivery system, according to the release.
Workers spray the adhesive on the two fabrics being bonded and apply pressure to the seam. The adhesive dries quickly, further enabling fast and efficient assembly, the release said. These steps create a bond strong enough to meet the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) M288-06 requirements for seam efficiency for a wide variety of specifications.
“There is no other product like this in the geotextile seaming industry, and those who specify this product will see a significant increase in productivity,” said Craig Moss, a 3M application development engineer. “The easy-to-use spray gun assembly will eliminate lost time due to equipment issues and save the owner and contractor money.”
In addition to high-bonding strengths, other advantages of this product could include labor, equipment, and materials savings. By eliminating the need for sewing machines and generators, contractors could also avoid down time due to equipment maintenance and repair.
The press release said that, in some cases, use of the seaming spray adhesive could reduce the geotextile material overlap from 24in. to 6in., providing additional material savings.
3M Geotextile Seaming Cylinder Spray Adhesive is currently approved for specification by transportation departments in the states of Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and New York, with additional approvals pending.
For more information: www.3m.com/geotextile