Effect of brine on long-term performance of four HDPE geomembranes. Issue 5 (10th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rowe, R. K.; Shoaib, M.
• Is Part Of: Geosynthetics international. Volume 24:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 508
• Page End: 523
• Publication Date: 2017-08-10
• Subjects: Geosynthetics -- HDPE Geomembrane -- Stress-crack resistance -- Antioxidant depletion -- Brine solution -- Shale/coal gas extraction; Geosynthetics -- Periodicals; Geosynthetics; Periodicals; 624.1892
• DOI: 10.1680/jgein.17.00018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1072-6349

Abstract

Abstract : The performance of four 1.5 mm thick high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes (GMBs) (denoted MxA-15, MxC-15, MyE-15, and MyEW-15) immersed in a brine solution with 200, 000 ppm total dissolved solids and a pH = 8.7 is presented for 4 years. Accelerated ageing experiments were conducted at 40, 65, 75, and 85°C for 4 years. It is shown that neither the Std-OIT nor HP-OIT had reached a residual value before physical degradation was observed, suggesting that the traditional three-stage concept for degradation did not apply when based on the values obtained (as is usual) through the entire GMB thickness. The time to nominal failure, based on a reduction of 50% of the initial value, was less than 4 years for all GMBs at temperatures ≥ 65°C. However, using the time at which the stress crack resistance (SCR), obtained from the single point notched constant tensile load (SP-NCTL) test, decreased to 50% of the minimum requirements of GRI-GM13, the times to nominal failure are greater than 20 years for at T ≤ 65°C for MyE-15.