Archives

Transitioning from 30 MIL PVC geomembrane to 60 MIL HDPE

February 1st, 2023

Q:I have a client that operates a Subtitle C landfill that utilizes a double-liner system of 30 mil (0.76mm) PVC geomembrane for the base liner. They are wanting to evaluate the possibility to transition from 30 mil (0.76 mm) PVC to 60 mil (1.52 mm) high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane for the base liner system. In […]

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PVC geomembrane specifications for South American lithium mining

June 1st, 2022

FIGURE 1 A covered pond with a PVC geomembrane (left) that complies with Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) specifications. A second pond (right) is already filled with lithium brine. Lithium, one of the raw materials in various batteries, is the element powering the technological revolution over the past 30 years that has led to people having […]

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Geosynthetics for pipe wrapping

February 1st, 2022

Q: I need impervious geosynthetics for pipe wrapping that will be placed within heavy clay. Do you have any suggestions? A: One wraps nonpolymeric pipes for many reasons. Below are some examples: Insulation (sound and thermal)Corrosion protectionWaterproofingImpact resistance Most wraps are tapes or mastics. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), butyl rubber and bituminous wraps are common. A […]

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New ASTM geosynthetics standard provides specifications for vinyl sheet piling

January 28th, 2022

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet piling. Photograph courtesy CeTeau B.V. ASTM International’s Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has approved a new standard that will help engineers, designers and specifiers who work with vinyl sheet piling. Applications for such piling include the construction of seawalls, retaining walls and chemical cut-off walls.   “The new specification will standardize the materials […]

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PVC sheet piling for cutoff and containment barriers

August 1st, 2020

By Brendan Sheppard and Steve Hargrave FIGURE 1 30-foot (9.1-m) long PVC sheet pile installed with a fixed mast pile driver in August 2015 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet piling (Figure 1) has been used for more than 25 years in bulkheads throughout the United States and beyond as a replacement for steel, concrete and timber […]

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Clarifying the nomenclature of Elvaloy-based geomembranes: EIA, EIP or KEE

June 1st, 2019

By E. Silva and T. D. Stark  Since the first flexible membrane liner (FML) was used as part of an environmental liner system, the geomembrane industry has always looked for innovative solutions for chemical containment applications. Although there have been many innovations over the last 50 years, one of the most significant is the introduction […]

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Minnesota Pollution Control Agency updates geosynthetic liner guidelines for stormwater management

August 30th, 2018

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (Minnesota PCA) revised and released new geosynthetic liner guidelines for stormwater management in August. The guidelines specify where liners are required and where liners are recommended, liner specifications (e.g., HDPE, GCL, PVC), and how to select an appropriate liner. “Liners are designed to limit infiltration of water from a stormwater […]

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O-I chooses steel reinforced geosynthetic drainage improvements for a Texas landfill

May 17th, 2018

In December 2017, Owens-Illinois, commonly known as O-I and one of the largest glassmakers in the world, took action to improve the drainage system for their glass container landfill situated near the company’s O-I Waco manufacturing facility in Waco, Texas, Contech Engineered Solutions said in a press release. The consulting engineer worked closely with the […]

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The durability of exposed geomembrane covers

October 1st, 2017

The most frequently asked question by people in the geosynthetics world is how long is the anticipated lifetime of geosynthetics. So much so that of the more than 3,000 questions submitted to the GMA Techline since it began in 2004, 591 (19.7%) have been on lifetime, aka durability. Of these, 49% were on buried lifetime, […]

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Protecting geomembranes from animal damage

June 1st, 2017

Resisting animal and insect attacks on geomembranes is an interesting problem. Geomembrane installers and manufacturers have had numerous geomembranes damaged by bears, deer, coyotes, birds, beavers, and ground squirrels (Figures 1 and 2). In most cases, the damage is incidental to something else the animal is seeking. Deer damage the liner with their hooves trying […]

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