Abstract: A non-woven polymeric mat for protecting pipelines, the mat including a plurality of extruded, strands derived from a polymer blend of pelletized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin having a k-value ranging from 60 to 70 and an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), wherein the amount of TPE in the polymer blend ranges from about 2.8 parts by weight to about 4 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of PVC resin in the polymer blend and is sufficient to improve the modulus and tensile strength of the mat, and further wherein the polymer blend is devoid of a nucleating agent and is devoid of a cross-linking agent, and wherein the extruded strands have a specific gravity ranging from about 1.25 to about 1.4.