Laboratory Study of the Ultraviolet Radiation Effect on an HDPE Geomembrane

Abstract

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes are polymeric geosynthetic materials usually applied as a liner in environmental facilities due to their good mechanical properties, good welding conditions, and excellent chemical resistance. A geomembrane’s field performance is affected by different conditions and exposures, including ultraviolet radiation, thermal and oxidative exposure, and chemical contact. This article presents an experimental study with a 1.0 mm-thick HDPE virgin geomembrane exposed by the Xenon arc weatherometer for 2160 h and the ultraviolet fluorescent weatherometer for 8760 h to understand the geomembrane’s behavior under ultraviolet exposure. The evaluation was performed using the melt flow index (MFI) test, oxidative-induction time (OIT) tests, tensile test, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The sample exposed in the Xenon arc equipment showed a tendency to increase the MFI values during the exposure time. This upward trend may indicate morphological changes in the polymer. The tensile behavior analysis showed a tendency of the sample to lose ductility, without showing brittle behavior. The samples’ OIT test results under both device exposures showed faster antioxidant depletion for the standard OIT test than the high-pressure OIT test. The DSC and FTIR analyses did not demonstrate the polymer’s changes.

Accelerated Aging Ultraviolet of a PET Nonwoven Geotextile and Thermoanalytical Evaluation

“…Thomas and Verschoor [12], for example, used thermal analyses (differential scanning calorimetry-DSC, thermomechanical analysis-TMA, and dynamical mechanical analysis-DMA) and physical property testing to study the chemical aging of nonwoven polyester geotextiles. Some studies assessed thermal analyses in different applications in other geosynthetics, such as geomembranes used in environmental works [14][15][16][17]. However, despite their potential, these techniques have still not been used to evaluate the effects of UV radiation on nonwoven PET geotextiles, which is the focus of this study.…”

Study on the durability of HDPE geomembranes applied to geotechnics and the environment using laboratory aged samples and in situ exhumed samples

“…After the synergy exposure to UV radiation (8760 h) and thermal aging (4380 h), the 1L sample presented a decrease of 20.02 %. According to Lavoie et al (2021), the same sample showed a decrease of 22.85 % after 8760 h of UV exposure. That is, the thermal exposure seems not to change the tensile resistance of this sample.…”