We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Engineering

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Geomembranes?

By Anne Morgan
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 11,122
Share

Geomembranes are impermeable membranes used in conjunction with rocks or earth to block fluid migration in man-made structures. In most cases, they are made of synthetic polymers. Unlike other methods of controlling fluid movement, such as using clay, asphalt, or sand stabilized with cement, these membranes have almost no permeability if there are no holes in the material. Due to their flexibility, they can accommodate ground settling and shifting. Geomembranes may also be called synthetic liners, polymeric membranes, or flexible membrane liners.

Geomembranes are most often made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), medium-density polyethylenes, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, or a similar kind of material. Due to their ability to block fluids, they can help to prevent the dispersal of contaminants, and may be used with soil liners or geotextiles to create a composite lining system that provides added security. Geotextile fabrics, made from polyester or polypropylene, are used with soil to provide filtration, reinforcement, or drainage in many civil engineering applications such as embankments, canals, and railroads.

These membranes are mainly used as liners in landfills to help prevent chemicals or other dangerous leachate from polluting the surrounding area. When a landfill reaches its maximum capacity, a geomembrane final cover is often placed over it to prevent the escape of gases and the intrusion of rain. These membranes have many other applications, however, and are useful wherever liquid movement needs to be controlled or prevented. They may be used for something as simple as building a decorative pond, or as potentially hazardous as containing a spill from a chemical storage tank. They may be used in mining to help contain chemical solutions or to reduce the loss of metals that are leached out of ore.

When preparing an area for geomembrane installation, the soil must be freed of all sharp objects such as sticks that could puncture the lining; if necessary, geotextiles can be placed below to reduce the risk of tears. Panels of geomembrane lining are usually bonded at adjacent seams, using extrusion welding, hot-wedge seaming, or hot-air welding. Generally, hot-air welding is used as a temporary measure to immobilize the lining before an extrusion weld is applied. Seams are subsequently tested to ensure that there are no leaks and that they are properly joined.

Geomembranes are used by many companies and contractors in an effort to minimize the effect of human development activities on the environment. Thus, although geomembrane liners used in many applications, they are especially important for waste containment. They are manufactured from highly durable materials, often with an expected lifetime of hundreds of years. They must be resistant to chemicals and to wear, so that the passage of time and corrosion do not affect the integrity of the lining and the environment is protected.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-are-geomembranes.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.