Some Factors affecting Geosynthetics used for GeoEnvironmental Applications

A number of factors potentially affecting the performance of geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) and HDPE geomembranes (GMs) in geoenvironmental applications are reviewed. These include: the method of manufacture of GCLs; the interaction between GCLs with municipal solid waste (MSW) leachate, acid rock drainage, gold mine leachates, and hydrocarbons; the effect of freeze-thaw cycles; field exposure in the arctic; the effect of the degree of saturation; the effect of subzero temperatures on the permeability of saturated and unsaturated GCLs; the potential for internal erosion of GCLs; susceptibility of GCLs and CCLs to shrinkage and desiccation when used as part of a composite liner; diffusion of volatile organic compounds and ions through both GMs and GCLs; leakage through single GMs and composite liners; the long-term performance of GMs in air, water and MSW leachate; and the effect of immersion in hydrocarbons on the depletion of antioxidants in GMs.