Edited by Lucia-Haoyang Environmental Co.,Ltd

I. Introduction

In the Philippines, the need for good-quality pond liners is growing, especially in farming, fish-raising, and water storage. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes, especially the 1mm and 1.5mm thick ones, are really popular because they work so well. Let's take a look at these HDPE pond liners, see where we can use them, what benefits they bring, and how they measure up to international standards.

II. What are HDPE Geomembranes?

1. What They're Made Of

HDPE geomembranes are made from high-density polyethylene, a type of plastic. Its special structure, with tightly packed molecules, gives it great features. According to the Chinese standard GB/T17643-2011, the density of HDPE is usually between 0.939-0.945 g/cm³. This makes it tough against holes, tears, and chemical damage.

2. Important Features

(1) Strength

How strong an HDPE geomembrane is matters a lot. For 1mm thick ones, the strength when pulled in the machine direction should be at least 18 MPa, and 16 MPa across. For 1.5mm thick ones, it's even stronger, at least 22 MPa in the machine direction and 20 MPa across. This strength helps them hold up during use and installation. 

(2) Water-tightness

HDPE geomembranes are super good at keeping water in. The Chinese standard says the maximum water-flow rate (hydraulic conductivity) should be 1×10⁻¹³ cm/s. Both 1mm and 1.5mm thick HDPE geomembranes meet this. So, they're perfect for lining ponds to stop leaks.

(3) Chemical Resistance

These geomembranes can handle a lot of different chemicals. They can stand up to really acidic stuff (pH 2) and really alkaline stuff (pH 13). In the Philippines, where ponds might have fertilizers and pesticides, this is really useful. For example, in fish ponds, they can handle fish medicines and water-treatment chemicals without breaking down.

3. How They're Made

Haoyang Environmental Co., Ltd. manufactures HDPE geomembranes using two production processes: the blow-molding process and the flat-extrusion process. Among them, the blow-molding process is Haoyang's strength.

With Haoyang's fully-automated centralized feeding system, polyethylene pellets are evenly mixed with special plastic additives, color masterbatches, anti-aging agents and other auxiliary materials. Then, through processes such as melting and plasticizing, extrusion and blow-molding, traction, cutting, and winding, the HDPE geomembranes are made. Because of its higher requirements for the melt index of raw materials and better tensile and stretching properties, the HDPE geomembranes produced by the blow-molding process are more suitable for handling external loading.

Haoyang owns the first five-layer co-extrusion, 10-meter-wide blow-molding geomembrane production line in China. This production line can produce geomembranes with smooth surfaces, as well as those with nitrogen-textured and sprayed-textured surfaces during the online production process.

III. Where We Use 1mm and 1.5mm HDPE Geomembrane Pond Liners in the Philippines

1. In Farms

(1) Irrigation Ponds

In the farming areas of the Philippines, irrigation ponds are very important. 1mm HDPE geomembranes can stop water from leaking out. In a 1-hectare pond in Nueva Ecija, after using a 1mm HDPE liner, water loss went down by 80%. For bigger ponds, 1.5mm HDPE is better because it's more durable.

(2) Fertilizer-Storage Ponds

Fertilizer-storage ponds need a good liner to stop fertilizers from getting into the soil and water. 1.5mm HDPE geomembranes are great for this. In a Davao fertilizer-storage pond, a 1.5mm HDPE liner has kept the fertilizers in for over 5 years without any leaks.

(3) Livestock Watering Ponds

For livestock ponds, keeping the water clean and the liner tight is key. 1mm HDPE geomembranes are often used because they're cheap and work well. In a Bulacan livestock farm, a 1mm HDPE-lined pond has given clean water to the animals for 3 years.

2. In Aquaculture

(1) Fish Ponds

In the growing aquaculture industry, 1.5mm HDPE geomembranes are used a lot in big fish farms. In a Laguna tilapia-farming pond, using a 1.5mm HDPE liner made the water cleaner and the fish yield went up by 15%.

(2) Shrimp Ponds

Shrimp are very sensitive to water quality. 1.5mm HDPE geomembranes are great for shrimp ponds. In a Zamboanga shrimp-farming area, using 1.5mm HDPE liners cut the shrimp mortality rate by 20%.

(3) Oyster and Shellfish Farms

For oyster and shellfish farms, 1mm HDPE geomembranes can be used in small-scale operations. In a Batangas oyster farm, a 1mm HDPE-lined pond protected the oysters from bad stuff in the soil.

3. For Water Storage

(1) Municipal Water Storage Ponds

In some rural parts of the Philippines, 1.5mm HDPE geomembranes line municipal water storage ponds. In a Quezon town, a 1.5mm HDPE-lined pond has stored clean water for over 7 years.

(2) Industrial Water Storage Ponds

Industrial water storage ponds can use 1.5mm HDPE geomembranes. In a Cavite manufacturing plant, a 1.5mm HDPE-lined pond has stored water for 4 years without any problems.

(3) Emergency Water Storage Ponds

In disaster-prone areas, 1mm HDPE geomembranes can be used in small emergency water storage. In a Cebu barangay, a 1mm HDPE-lined pond stored clean water for the community after a typhoon.

IV. Comparing with Other Pond Lining Materials

1. Compared to Clay Liners

(1) Leakage

Clay liners let more water through than HDPE. A typical clay liner has a water-flow rate of 1×10⁻⁷-1×10⁻⁹ cm/s, much higher than HDPE's 1×10⁻¹³ cm/s. A clay-lined pond lost 500 liters of water a day, while a 1mm HDPE-lined one lost less than 10 liters.

(2) Durability

Clay liners crack and erode easily, especially in rainy areas. A 1.5mm HDPE geomembrane can last for a long time. In 10 years, a clay-lined pond needed 3 repairs, but a 1.5mm HDPE-lined one had no damage.

(3) Installation

Installing a clay liner takes a lot of time and work. Installing a 1-hectare HDPE-lined pond takes 1-2 weeks, while a clay-lined one might take 4-6 weeks.

2. Comparedto PVC Liners

(1) Chemical Resistance

HDPE is better at resisting chemicals than PVC. In a really acidic pond (pH 2), a PVC liner started to break down after 6 months, but a 1.5mm HDPE geomembrane was still okay after 2 years.

(2) Environment

PVC liners can release bad chemicals during making and throwing away. HDPE is recyclable and doesn't harm the water or soil.

(3) Cost

At first, PVC liners might seem cheaper. But over 5 years, the total cost of a PVC-lined pond (including fixing and replacing) was 20% more than a 1.5mm HDPE-lined one.

V. Meeting International Standards

1. Chinese Standard GB/T17643-2011

(1) Physical Features

1mm and 1.5mm HDPE geomembranes meet this Chinese standard. For example, a 1mm HDPE geomembrane made in the Philippines had a density of 0.942 g/cm³, a machine-direction tensile strength of 20 MPa, and an elongation at break of 700%, all within the standard.

(2) Leak-proof

Their water-flow rate is well below the 1×10⁻¹³ cm/s limit, so they stop water from seeping.

2. American Standard GM13

(1) Long-lasting

GM13 has tough durability rules. A 1.5mm HDPE geomembrane from a good manufacturer passed the 5000-hour UV radiation test, showing it meets the GM13 standard.

(2) Installation

GM13 also has installation rules. In a big Philippine pond-lining project, the welding strength of 1.5mm HDPE geomembranes was 90% of the base material strength, which meets the GM13 requirement.

VI. Conclusion

1mm and 1.5mm HDPE geomembrane pond liners are really useful in the Philippines, whether it's for farming, fish-raising, or storing water. They're better than other liners because of their strength, water-tightness, and chemical resistance.

By following international standards, they offer a reliable and long-lasting solution. As we focus more on good water management and protecting the environment, these HDPE geomembrane pond liners will be even more important in different industries.

2mm smooth geomembrane report.pdf

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