1. The rise of bituminous geomembrane(BGM):
Ten years of transformation in the geomembrane industry
A decade ago, bituminous geomembranes (BGM)) were a relatively unknown player in the landfill and mining industry. Fast forward to today, and bituminous geomembrane(BGM) has emerged as a significant disruptor, posing a significant challenge to traditional high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane manufacturers. The industry landscape has changed dramatically, with bituminous geomembrane(BGM) steadily gaining market share and having a lasting impact on the geomembrane market.
A major bituminous geomembrane(BGM) supplier received a huge order from a Western Australian mine in late 2023 for more than 1 million square meters of bituminous geomembrane(BGM) material. This order demonstrates the increasing adoption of bituminous geomembranes (BGM). There are many similar situations, All these mark the rise of bituminous geomembrane(BGM).
2. Key reasons for the rise of bituminous geomembrane(BGM)
Several factors have contributed to the rise of bituminous geomembrane(BGM) and its growing preference for HDPE geomembranes.
One of the main reasons is bituminous geomembrane(BGM)’s superior resistance to installation damage and mechanical wear. This characteristic sets bituminous geomembrane(BGM) apart and makes it an ideal candidate for landfill bottom liners, allowing traffic during installation, while the top liners are typically HDPE.
2.1 Resilience to installation damage: Bituminous geomembrane(BGM) is known for its sturdiness during installation. Unlike HDPE geomembranes, which are sensitive to installation conditions, bituminous geomembrane(BGM) is more forgiving. Their ability to resist damage during installation ensures they maintain integrity and functionality even in challenging environments.
2.2 Mechanical Durability: bituminous geomembrane(BGM) has excellent mechanical durability, making it an excellent choice for applications involving heavy human and machine traffic, such as landfills. Their puncture and abrasion resistance significantly reduces the risk of damage to heavy machinery and vehicles, thereby extending their service life and reducing maintenance costs.
2.3 Trafficability of the lining: Background music is particularly suitable for use as a lining for landfills. Their mechanical elasticity allows vehicles and equipment to traverse the surface during construction and installation without compromising its integrity. This accessibility is a clear advantage during the initial stages of a project, as it simplifies the construction process and minimizes the occurrence of holes and tears in the underlayment.
2.4 Synergy with HDPE: While bituminous geomembrane(BGM) has gained attention for its use as bottom liner, HDPE geomembrane remains a popular choice for top liner. This symbiotic relationship between bituminous geomembrane(BGM) and HDPE can provide cost-effective and long-lasting solutions in landfill and mining applications. The combination of bituminous geomembrane(BGM) on the bottom and HDPE on top provides a strong and reliable sealing system.
3. Positive characteristics of bituminous geomembrane(BGM)
Bituminous geomembrane(BGM) possesses several key properties that make it increasingly popular and pose significant challenges to HDPE geomembranes:
3.1 Low permeability: bituminous geomembrane(BGM) has impressively low permeability with a velocity of 10 -14 m/s according to ASTM E 96 standard. This makes them very effective as a barrier, preventing the passage of liquids and gases.
3.2 Puncture resistance: bituminous geomembrane(BGM) has excellent puncture resistance even in the case of angular aggregate materials. This elasticity ensures long-term durability and minimizes the risk of leakage or damage. bituminous geomembrane(BGM)’s lining uses a strong polyester continuous filament geotextile combined with protective bitumen. This design offers excellent puncture and abrasion resistance, making it ideal for the installation process and compatible with aggressive interface materials such as corner drainage aggregate.
3.3 Low thermal expansion: bituminous geomembrane(BGM) has a low thermal expansion coefficient (1 x 10 -5 mm/m/°C, according to ASTM D1204) and is almost unaffected by thermal wrinkling. Unlike HDPE geomembranes, bituminous geomembrane(BGM) is flat at all temperatures, avoiding the formation of wrinkles. This feature allows for more controlled welding and placement of cover materials regardless of time of day and surface temperature.
3.4 Extreme Temperature Tolerance: bituminous geomembrane(BGM) has proven its ability to withstand extreme temperature changes, from the freezing temperatures of northern Canada and Siberia to the sweltering heat of the Pilbara region of Australia and the Atacama Desert of Chile. This adaptability makes them suitable for different geographical locations and climates.
3.5 Steep slope capability: bituminous geomembrane(BGM) has the advantage of steep slope capability, enabling a variety of design options and potentially storing more waste per unit area of the cover. Their high friction underside is often fitted with a peelable siliconized anti-stick paper which prevents slipping and allows cover soil to be placed at steeper angles, with slopes as steep as 1:1.3 being successfully installed in Australia.
3.6 High wind resistance: Wind is a key consideration in geomembrane applications. With a specific gravity of 1.27 and a thickness of up to 5.6 mm, bituminous geomembrane(BGM) is heavy, dense and wind-resistant buoyant. This feature improves safety during installation and reduces the need for temporary ballast, benefiting both designers and installers.
3.7 Inherently Strong Structure: Unlike some HDPE geomembranes that are prone to stress cracking, bituminous geomembrane(BGM) does not suffer from this problem due to its geotextile and asphalt composition. This allows bituminous geomembrane(BGM) to come into contact with aggressive soils and aggregates without the need for additional protective geotextiles. Laboratory tests have confirmed their ability to withstand extreme pressure without puncture.
4. In conclusion
The geomembrane industry has undergone significant transformation over the past decade, driven by the emergence and widespread adoption of bituminous geomembrane(BGM).
Once a newcomer, bituminous geomembrane(BGM) has become a significant threat to HDPE geomembrane manufacturers. bituminous geomembrane(BGM)’s ability to withstand installation and mechanical damage, as well as trafficability during construction, makes it the first choice for substrate linings in landfills and mining projects.
But we must also see that the production cost and application fields of bituminous geomembrane(BGM) make it not a big threat to HDPE geomembrane. HDPE geomembrane can be adapted to almost all construction and living fields such as infrastructure, mining, fishery, landscape, etc. This is irreplaceable for bituminous geomembrane(BGM), especially the HDPE geomembrane produced by Haoyang Environmental Co., Ltd. is of superior quality and category, and can be adapted to almost all areas of construction, production and life.
There will be some competition between bituminous geomembrane(BGM) and HDPE geomembranes in some areas, but it will not be vicious competition, but will promote each other's innovation and provide more choices and better solutions for the specific needs of end users. ultimately benefiting them. The above information comes from ATA.
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