What is a Geosynthetics Clay Liner?

Geosynthetics clay liner systems are pneumatic barriers manufactured with a variety of low-density materials and supporting geotextile and geomembranes. All of these materials cohere to chemical adhesives and mechanical processes like expulsion.

Geosynthetics clay liners are principally used for waste management and containment. There are several environmental laws intended by regulating agencies that require any potentially harmful seepage to be confined and disposed of properly — or else, these hazardous materials could be the reason for major environmental and health issues. However there are many containment methods available, geosynthetics clay liners offer great benefits in terms of fast installation, permanence, and cost-effectiveness.

Purpose of geosynthetics clay liner

The engineering function of a GCL is containment as a pneumatic barrier to water, leachate, or other liquids and often gases. Thence, they are used as replacements for somewhat compacted clay liners or geomembranes, or they are used in a composite manner to strengthen the more traditional liner materials.

How is a geosynthetics clay liner made?

Geosynthetics clay liners (or GCLs) are the newest part of geosynthetics materials. They are rolls of factory-manufactured thin layers of Bentonite clay clogged between two geotextile or bonded to a Geomembrane. Structural integrity is maintained through needle punching, stitching, or physical bonding.

Installment of geosynthetics clay liner

Steps 1 – delve into your area for the lining. Delve the area a minimum of 12 inches deeper than your finished grade.
Step 2 – Draw up the area for liner installation. Ensure that the subgrade is free of all rocks and debris.
Step 3 – inaugurating the geosynthetics clay liners.

How are geosynthetics clay liners applied in civil engineering?

Claymat GCLs (Geosynthetics Clay Liners) are applied to provide a liquid and/or gas barrier in a broad range of environmental and civil engineering applications where containment barriers are needed, containing landfill lining and capping, reservoirs & canals, adorning ponds, highway balancing reservoirs and retention ponds.

Few Geosynthetics Clay Liner Applications

Geosynthetics clay liner systems can benefit manifold containment applications. In this blog, we’ll walk through just five of the most general:

Geosynthetics Clay Liners for Landfills

Landfills are particularly built to contain and manage waste in a competent, effective manner. When they’re managed inappropriately, they can be one of the biggest contributing points to environmental damage.

Landfills require a containment solution to avert solid and liquid garbage waste from entering the soil and polluting the surrounding groundwater and environment. That solution usually involves geosynthetics clay liners for Landfills, which are proven to secure protected, safe conditions for years to come.

API Tanks & Foundation Liners

API represents the American Petroleum Institute, which is an industry jurisdiction on all things oil. They’ve set up standards for the design and production of steel storage tanks that store oil, gasoline, and chemicals. One such API standard is the requirement that API tanks be along with a low-permeability solution at the bottom to counter damage from leaks or spills. Some API tank applications require another coating of lining on the foundation where the tank is set, stipulating maximum environmental protection.

Geosynthetics Clay Liners for Ponds

Geosynthetics clay liners aren’t just good for managing harmful materials — they’re as well as good for containing something as pure as water in a consigned area.

While some ponds have natural clay bottoms that give enough of a barrier, some require an artificial or custom-manufactured solution. Installing a geosynthetics clay liner for ponds and further adding the proper soil cover, is the best option for keeping necessary water in the pond, while also obstructing sediment and other debris from entering it and conserving its natural, ecological beauty and all that resides within it.

Earthen Spill Containment Berms

Earthen spill containment berms are containment areas with earthen walls that can diversify in size they’re built to forbid hazardous materials from spilling and polluting the environment, and they’re most generally placed underneath high-risk devices such as oil drums and tanks.

Geosynthetics clay liners can add spill containment berms with an additional layer of protection. When situated on the surface of the berm, they’re coated with the proper soil cover, and then they can consist of any spills and prevent rough terrain like rocks or sticks from poking through and causing pollution.

Secondary Containment banks, Berms & Levees

Secondary containment acts as an essential shield in stopping the release of spills. In case your primary containment system fails, having an alternative can save you and the environment from loads of costly damage. The adaptability and durability of geosynthetics clay liner systems make them the ultimate alternative and support for complete compliance and safety.

Conceding that you need a comprehensive containment solution for your application, you can rely on Ocean geosynthetics to deliver excellence. Together with decades of experience using a wide range of geosynthetics and secondary containment products, our quick response, quality workmanship, and dedication to environmental responsibility show in all steps of our procedure.