Geosynthetic Clay Liner and Waterproof Membrane
Landfills need a containment solution to avert the leakage of solid and liquid garbage waste into groundwater and environment. GCLs are the ideal choice.
GCLs are manufactured in controlled factory settings, making them more consistent than compacted clay liners. They provide better hydraulic performance, and have a self-healing effect.
This self-healing effect is due to the swelling capacity of sodium bentonite when it comes in contact with moisture. This makes it easy to repair any mechanical damage during installation or later use.
Waterproofing
GCL is a waterproof material and has many environmental benefits. It can be used in landfills and waste management to prevent leachate (liquid that percolates through the landfill waste) from contaminating soil and groundwater. It also helps control the migration of organic compounds and heavy metals in landfill waste.
GCLs are made from a core of low-permeability sodium bentonite clay sandwiched between geotextile and geomembrane layers or adhesively bonded to geomembrane. The sodium bentonite swells when it gets wet, sealing around fixing penetrations and creating a water-tight compressive seal. This waterproof feature makes it possible to line sloping ground surfaces that are difficult to line with conventional materials.
The swellability of the bentonite clay also means that GCLs are self-healing and can reseal punctures. This is useful in areas where a containment structure has been damaged by seismic activity, ground settlement or concrete shrinkage. The natural bentonite clay also does not oxidise, offering lifetime protection to the contained materials.
Another advantage of GCLs is that they have a lower permeability than compacted clay liners. They are resistant to freeze-thaw and desiccation-rewetting cycles, which can cause compacted clay liners to crack and leak. As a result, GCLs are often cheaper and faster to install than conventional compaction-based liners. The low permeability of GCLs can also help reduce the amount of clay required in composite barrier designs.
Fire Resistant
Geosynthetic Clay Liners are high-performance, prefabricated, and hydraulic barriers consisting of a layer of natural sodium bentonite clay sandwiched between two geotextile layers. The bentonite layer swells in contact with water to form a tight seal. The shear strength Waterproof Membrane Geosynthetic Clay Liner of GCLs is transmitted through the entire lining system, and they are not impacted by wet/dry or freeze/thaw cycles like compacted clay liners.
Our Bentofix Thermal Lock GCL is needle punched and manufactured to a high shear strength to resist the shear forces generated at steep slopes, making it an ideal choice for landfill applications. The sodium bentonite clay encapsulated within the GCL is shear locked to a non-woven geotextile to prevent movement and ensure the integrity of the liner system.
The bentonite incorporated into the GCL also provides resistance to chemical stressors. The material is not susceptible to degradation in the presence of acids, alkalis, or salts, and it has good corrosion and aging resistance as well as a large operating temperature range.
The combination of the GCL with geotextile or geomembrane creates a high-performance waterproof system for various projects including domestic waste landfill anti-seepage, solid waste landfill anti-seepage, sewage treatment plant anti-seepage, and artificial lakes anti-seepage. The materials are environmentally friendly, do not undergo aging reaction, have a high shear strength, and can be easily cut or shaped to fit the project’s specifications.
Anti-Corrosion
GEOSINCERE’s Bentofix range of geosynthetic clay liners is a needle punched product that contains two layers of geotextiles encapsulating a layer of sodium bentonite resulting in a high shear strength waterproofing membrane that is highly durable. It is resistant to varying weather conditions such as freeze-thaw and desiccation rewetting cycles, which can cause traditional compacted clay liners to crack and leak.
GCL’s are a cost effective alternative to the removal and transportation of soil, clay or sand for liner applications. The shear strength of the lining material also means that the system can be installed in virtually any climate and on uncured concrete. During installation, the natural ability of bentonite to swell self-seals small concrete cracks that may occur due to ground movement or seismic activity.
The reactivity of the bentonite inside the GCL allows it to react with any penetrating water and self-heal. Unlike HDPE, which is subject to temperature effects, the bentonite inside the GCL can swell 13-16 times upon reaction with water.
The shear strength of the bentonite lining can be increased even further by adding a resin such as urethane or epoxy to the mixture. This adds another level of durability to the system, increasing its longevity. The permeability of the GCL can be reduced by adding a thicker layer of the clay.
Biodegradable
Whether you’re managing hazardous waste or simply building a landfill, lining the site is Geocell for Roadbed essential. Regulations require that any harmful seepage be contained to prevent damage to the surrounding environment. This is achieved through the use of geosynthetic clay liners.
These are extremely versatile and robust waterproofing materials, ideal for a wide range of projects including landfill sites and water engineering construction. They are highly effective in containing liquids, gases and solids, helping to protect the environment from harm, as well as the structures within the site itself.
The lining is made from a layer of needle-punched reinforced geotextile that is encapsulated by another layer of sodium bentonite, making it durable and strong, yet easy to install. The bentonite swells when it comes into contact with water, giving it its protective properties. It also provides self-healing capabilities, meaning that if an object punctures the liner the bentonite will swell over it, sealing the hole.
Another benefit of GCLs is that they take up less space than a traditional compacted clay liner. A single truckload of GCL can cover 4,000 square metres, while a traditional clay liner covers only 40m2. This results in a great saving on logistical costs as well as being more environmentally friendly. This is particularly important as landfills must be able to provide space for a growing amount of waste.