Description

Polyethylene geomembrane sheets are polymer sheets that belong to the geosynthetic class.

These sheets are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and are used to seal various surfaces. They are also known as geomembrane pool liners.

Features such as fast and easy installation, resistance to bad weather and sunlight, and long life (80 years) have led to the use of these sheets in dam, tunnel, and swimming pool construction 

These sheets are available in rolls with a width of more than 2 m, a length of 50 m, and a thickness of 1-3 mm, and provide permanent sealing if properly installed.

Geomembrane pool liners do not react with water and leave it drinkable.

It is worth mentioning that polymer swimming pools can be constructed with only a third of the cost and a tenth of the time required by concrete swimming pools.

Rolls of these sheets are spread at the project site; then, their edges are fused via thermal welding, creating a uniform appearance.

If the membrane is expected to be in contact with soil, a geotextile or felt layer is spread under it as drainage and protection for the membrane.

Benefits of polyethylene geomembrane sheets (PE)

• High reliability in preventing the passage of water and damp
• Rapid installation (up to 2000 m² per day)
• Simple repair using a manual extruder
• Highly economical (a polymer pool costs one-third of a concrete pool to build)
• High resistance against weather conditions and sunlight
• High resistance against earthquakes and landslides
• Sanitary and suitable for irrigation water, greenhouses, fish ponds, and drinking water applications
• No need for adhesives (attachment via thermal welding)

Polyethylene geomembrane sheets are not considerably flexible, and PVC geomembrane sheets are recommended for damp sealing applications with complex geometries.

Types of polyethylene geomembrane sheets (PE)

Depending on the constituting polymer, these sheets are categorized into three general classes:

• High-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheets
• Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) sheets

These types of geomembrane sheets are more flexible than HDPE sheets and less flexible than PVC sheets.

However, they have a larger tensile and physical strength than PVC sheets. They can stand a tensile force of 15 MPa and elongate about 800%.

It is worth mentioning that two such sheets are fused together using a thermal welder.

• Very low-density polyethylene (VLDPE) sheets

The types of geomembranes are made of very-low-density polyethylene, resemble PVC membranes, and are more flexible than LLDPE sheets.

Moreover, they are chemically resistant and are fused together using a heat gun or a thermal welding device.

A tensile strength higher than that of LLDPE and a flexibility similar to that of PVC has made this membrane an excellent choice for damp sealing of building pits. Accordingly, it is recommended in most standards and international job descriptions for building pit sealing.

  Applications of PE Geomembrane:

• Irrigation and water storage pools
• Wastewater pools
• Water and chemical pools and reservoirs
• Tunnel construction
• Dam construction
• Water canals
• Walls exposed to rain
• Building pits and elevator pits
• Domestic swimming pools