GCL Geomembrane

Solutions for Waterproofing, Separation, Erosion Control, and Soft Soil Reinforcement

Geotextile waterproofing is another term for Geosynthetic Clay Liner (GCL). Bentonite GCL waterproofing membranes are a combination of two types of geotextiles, woven and non-woven, stitched together. Sandwiched between the two geotextile layers is a layer of clay compressed into a monolithic, impermeable sealant. This sealant has the ability to absorb water and expand, providing absolute waterproofing when exposed to moisture.

structure

Bentonite GCL waterproofing membranes, also known as compressed clay waterproofing membranes, have a specialized three-layer structure. The top layer is a non-woven geotextile, the middle layer is natural bentonite, and the bottom layer is a woven geotextile. These three layers are formed into a monolithic waterproofing barrier. Sometimes, a thin layer of HDPE membrane is added for enhanced performance.

*Bentonite: A type of synthetic clay, also known as hydrated composite bentonite.

Operating Principles and Characteristics

Operating Principle

Upon contact with water, the bentonite layer in the middle expands, creating an effective waterproofing barrier. This barrier is effective against both liquids and gases, with a recorded waterproofing efficiency of up to 95%.

Material Layer Characteristics

Bentonite GCL waterproofing consist of three layers: woven geotextile, non-woven geotextile, and bentonite clay.

Non-woven layer: Acts as a protective cushion for the bentonite layer against sharp objects on the surface.
Woven geotextile layer: Reduces elongation, prevents punctures, resists bursting, and provides separation between the fill material and the clay layer.
Bentonite clay: The primary waterproofing material. Upon prolonged exposure to water, it expands, providing waterproofing equivalent to a 60-90 cm thick layer of compacted clay.

Advantages

Excellent waterproofing, safe, and environmentally friendly.
Resistant to chemical and physical environmental impacts.
Eliminates the dry/crack effect of traditional clay.
Reduces transportation costs by up to 150 times compared to traditional clay materials.
Fast, simple installation, even in wet environments.

Applications

Geotextile membranes combined with clay waterproofing are resistant to mechanical, chemical, and physical environmental impacts. They are needle-punched together to enhance stability and peel resistance, protecting the inner clay layer. The inner clay layer has a very low permeability coefficient and expands up to 15 times when saturated. This forms a gel-like waterproofing layer that can self-seal punctures. Bentonite (GCL) waterproofing membranes are widely used in various waterproofing applications, including:

Tunnel waterproofing
Landfill waterproofing
Waterproofing for dikes, dams, canals, artificial streams, etc.
Lining for mining sludge and ore containment areas for processing

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Products are competitively priced, with various attractive discounts suitable for each order quantity, optimizing material budgets and providing economic benefits.

Products meet quality standards according to current international standards such as ASTM, BSI, etc., satisfying diverse design requirements for each project.