A Review on Jute Geotextile and its Geo-Technical Applications with respect to Environmental Concern

Natural fibres are gradually emerging as essential ingredients of various types of textiles in view of increasing global concerns about environmental degradation. Reduction of carbon foot print in constructions is currently attracting global attention warranting innovations in construction technology with stress on eco-congruity. In this context increasing use of eco-concordant materials made of natural fibres to the extent feasible in constructions has assumed significance. Textile Technology is at the same time poised to take innovative turns by manufacturing products that could meet the technical requirements on the one hand and could help maintain eco-congruity on the other. Till date man-made (artificial polymer-based) fibres have a dominant role for its many advantages excepting the aspect of eco-congruity. Jute, besides its unique features, excels other natural fibres in availability and spinnability. There has been substantial research on technological innovations of Jute in the recent past mostly related to non-technical applications. With newer avenues in technical applications opening up of late, the need for continuing R & D has become a necessity. Development of Jute Geotextiles (JGT) in Geotech category of Technical Textiles is a pointer in this direction. Besides its effectiveness in carbon sequestration and eco-compatibility from cradle-to-grave, diverse applications of JGT are being conceptualized with thrust on R & D as unique technical attributes of Jute can meet most of the technical requirements needed for the major geo-technical applications. This paper brings out the physical characteristics of Jute fibre and some of the innovative R & D exercises executed so far. Keywordscarbon foot print; eco-congruity; jute geotextiles; geo-technical applications.