Laboratory Study of the Ultraviolet Radiation Effect on an HDPE Geomembrane

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021-05-26

Authors

Maria de Lurdes Lopes (Author) FEUP; Fernando Luiz Lavoie (Author) Other; Marcelo Kobelnik (Author) Other; Clever Aparecido Valentin (Author) Other; Érica Fernanda da Silva Tirelli (Author) Other; Jefferson Lins da Silva (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Membranes

Vol. 11 No. 6

Pages: 1-14

ISSN: 2077-0375

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

Scopus

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology

CORDIS: Technological sciences

Other information

DOI: 10.3390/membranes11060390

Abstract (EN): 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. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14