IMPROVING THE OPERATIONAL PROPERTIES AND CHEMICAL STABILITY OF POLYETHYLENE GEOMEMBRANES FILLED WITH SHEROBOD ARGILLITE FOR AGGRESSIVE SALINE SOIL CONDITIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21466505Keywords:
HDPE nanocomposites, clay-polymer interfacial interaction, tortuosity coefficient, environmental stress crack resistance, thermomechanical properties, mineral fillers, long-term durability in saline environments.Abstract
This study investigates the stability of nanocompositegeomembranes based on high-density polyethylene,modified with local argillite minerals from the Sherabad deposit, under conditions of aggressive saline soil.
The primary objective of the research is to enhance the chemical degradation resistance and the physical-mechanical properties of the polymer material using nanofillers. Nanocomposite samples were prepared by
incorporating various amounts (1-7 wt. %) of argillite into the high-density polyethylene melt via
extrusion. The chemical stability of the materials was tested under long-term exposure (90 days) to highly mineralized (sulfate and chloride) aggressive environments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed a uniform distribution of argillite particles within the polymer matrix and the formation of a tortuous path effect. The results indicate that the addition of an optimal amount of argillite, specifically 5%, increased the tensile strength of the geomembrane by 23% and significantly reduced the diffusion rate of salt ions.Thesefindings provide a scientific basis for the potential of creating highly durable and effective
geomembranes for hydrotechnical and land reclamation structures using local mineral raw materials.
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