Today, the protection of valuable groundwater and soil resources and strict environmental regulations regarding the non-leakage of soil and environmental pollutants, as well as the need to store and use water resources optimally, have made the use of HDPE geomembranes common in many land and water-related projects.
Geomembranes are an essential part of modern engineering and construction projects. They are synthetic materials that are used to cover and cover various structures such as landfills, reservoirs and ponds. The main purpose of geomembranes is to prevent the migration of liquids and gases through the structures they cover. This article provides an overview of geomembranes, their properties and applications.

Composition and Properties

Geomembranes are usually made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) or ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). These materials have excellent chemical resistance, durability, and flexibility, making them ideal for use in harsh environments.

Geomembranes come in a variety of thicknesses, ranging from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm. The thickness of the geomembrane depends on the specific application and the level of protection required. Thicker geomembranes offer greater resistance to punctures, tears, and other forms of damage.

Applications

Geomembranes are used in a wide range of applications, including:

1. Landfills: Geomembranes are used to line the bottom and sides of landfills to prevent leachate from migrating into the surrounding soil and groundwater.

2. Reservoirs: Geomembranes are used to line reservoirs to prevent water loss due to leaks.

3. Ponds: Geomembranes are used to line ponds to prevent water from migrating into the surrounding soil and groundwater.

4. Mining: Geomembranes are used in mining operations to contain and prevent the migration of chemicals and waste materials.

5. Agriculture: Geomembranes are used in agriculture to line irrigation canals and reservoirs to prevent water loss due to leakage.

Installation

Installation of geomembranes requires specialized equipment and skilled personnel. The geomembrane is usually rolled onto the surface to be covered and then welded together using a hot air gun or extrusion welder. The edges of the geomembrane are then secured using a trench anchor or tie-down tape.

Maintenance

Geomembranes require minimal maintenance after installation. However, regular inspections should be conducted to check for signs of damage or deterioration. Any damage should be repaired immediately to prevent further damage.

Today, the protection of valuable groundwater and soil resources and strict environmental regulations regarding the non-leakage of soil and environmental pollutants, as well as the need to store and use water resources optimally, have made the use of HDPE geomembranes common in many land and water-related projects. The low permeability coefficient of this membrane has made this product a replacement for old porous and permeable layers made of soil and concrete materials. Geomembrane sheets are completely resistant to fungi and molds, and ultraviolet radiation and other environmental factors do not have any negative qualitative effects on them. In the manufacture of geomembranes, the usual polluting lubricants used for the manufacture of polymers are not used, and therefore do not cause a decrease in water quality. Usually, VFPE polyethylene resin is used to manufacture geomembranes for use in coatings due to its high flexibility, tolerance and tensile strength. Also, in order to increase the resistance to abrasion and increase the roughness, fractional flex polyethylene is used to make geomembranes.

The main applications of HDPE geomembranes include insulating soil and concrete tanks for agricultural and aquaculture water, covering water transfer channels, insulating the foundations of tanks in the oil, gas, refining and petrochemical industries, tanks in the water and wastewater industries, sealing dams, lagoons in the chemical industry, evaporation ponds and secondary tanks in the oil, gas, refining and petrochemical industries, landfills (waste disposal tanks), mud and water ponds and drilling aggregates in the oil and gas industry, landfills for animal waste, hip leaching in the mining industry, etc.

Excellent chemical resistance, very good resistance to ultraviolet radiation (UV), proper elongation, quick and easy installation, large dimensions and good weldability are some of the prominent characteristics of this product.

PVC geomembrane:
One of the most widely used and most experienced geomembranes for sealing underground structures is PVC geomembrane (PVC), which is produced by combining special additives and plasticizers into a PVC sheet formula. Excellent softness, excellent weldability with automatic and manual machines, very good resistance to soil oxidation, no stress cracking, excellent resistance to punching, appropriate elongation during concrete injection with the shape and contours of the structure, etc. All of the above have made geomembranes a reliable product in geotechnical applications.

LLDPE geomembrane with two smooth sides:

Considering the geometric shape of some structures and solving the problem of stress cracking in geomembranes and their need to use more flexible geomembranes, LLDPE or VLDPE geomembranes have been designed and produced.

The main applications of LLDPE geomembranes include sealing water transmission channels, underground structures such as foundations and building foundations, tunnel sealing, etc. Good flexibility, significant elongation, no stress cracking, very high elasticity