ABSTRACT
In certain applications, geotextiles may come into contact with metal ions, which may influence the oxidation process of these construction materials. This work evaluates the effect of two metal ions (copper and iron) on the thermo-oxidation resistance of high-density polyethylene woven geotextiles. To this end, two geotextiles with different stabilisation packages were exposed in isolation and consecutively to two degradation tests: (1) immersion in metal ion solutions and (2) thermo-oxidation. The damage experienced by the geotextiles was assessed by monitoring changes in their tensile behaviour. The combined action of the degradation tests was compared to the sum of their individual actions. The results obtained for the high-density polyethylene geotextiles were compared to previous results found for polypropylene geotextiles. In summary, the research allowed to conclude that the metal ions copper and iron did not have any noticeable influence on the thermo-oxidation resistance of the high-density polyethylene geotextiles. Indeed, and contrary to the behaviour seen in polypropylene geotextiles, no catalytic effects of metal ions were found in the thermo-oxidation process.
