Research has shown that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) and elevated temperature can accelerate the process of oxidation which in turn can reduce the strength of geosynthetic materials.

In South Africa the temperature in most regions can reach the upper 30’s which may result in the temperature on exposed, black geomembranes to be in excess of 60°C.

In August 2013, the South African Regulator, the Department of Water Affairs, released new Norms & Standards for the design of waste disposal facilities.

In the license review process to obtain design approval of waste management facilities, the service life, related to aging of geosynthetics, must be found to be sufficient compared to the ‘polluting life’ of the materials being contained by the barrier system.

In this paper the effects of UV and heat exposure on geomembranes using four case studies of geomembranes installed at sites in three different provinces, will be presented by comparing any available baseline properties of the liner to the properties after a period of exposure.

Download technical paper here.