Raven Engineered Films has issued a new technical paper: Advanced Geomembrane Technology for Enhanced Protection of EPS Geofoam in Transportation Systems. The publication is part of the company’s technical library and openly available resources for the geosynthetics and civil engineering fields.
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PROTECTING EPS GEOFOAM WITH GEOMEMBRANES
Raven’s paper examines the effectiveness of polyolefin geomembranes used to protect and encapsulate construction grade expanded polystyrene (EPS). This material—geofoam—is dimensionally sensitive to hydrocarbons when utilized as a foundation material. The study described in the paper shows comprehensive results directly corresponding to permeation resistance to gasoline, which causes rapid degradation to blocks of EPS geofoam, and reviews a group of commonly used protective geomembranes that provide some significant findings in as little as a few hours of exposure.
The research shared evaluated linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ethylene interpolymer alloy (EIA), chlorosulfonated polyethylene reinforced (CSPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and multi-material barriers (e.g., LLDPE-B).
Two studies found that Raven’s barrier geomembrane protected the EPS geofoam completely for six weeks and even up to 160 days of continuous submersion in liquid hydrocarbon fuel.
Read the full paper (PDF)
Learn more about Raven geomembranes and affiliated engineering applications at www.ravenefd.com.
