Long-term performance HDPE geomembrane seams in MSW leachate

The effect of a synthetic municipal solid waste leachate (MSW) on the long-term performance of dual wedge welds in a 1.5 mm thick high-density polyethylene geomembrane (GMB) is reported based on four years of testing at 40, 65 75, 85 oC. The effect of leachate on the GMB well away from the weld, in the heat affected zone beside the weld, and in the welded zone are investigated. The slowest antioxidant depletion rate was in the weld itself and the fastest rate for the heat affected zone adjacent to the weld. The shear break and peel break properties started to decrease after Std-OIT had depleted to residual, but before the HP-OIT had reached residual. Failures occur at the HAZ adjacent to weld in both the shear and peel tests. No failure of the seam itself was observed. The times to nominal failure of the GMB in the critical HAZ zone are predicted. The rate of degradation in the weld and sheet are compared.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author