What is the plasticizer loss rate of PVC geomembranes?
Approximately 30-35 percent of the PVC formulation is plasticizer. The actual loss rate is determined by the application in which it is used. The worse case is a situation where there is the largest gradient of organic components between the geomembrane and the surrounding environment. A canal liner in pure water would actually be a more severe application than a liner used as a municipal landfill liner. The reason for this is that the water is lower in organic components than a typical landfill leachate. Also, the water in the canal is constantly changing compared to the landfill that is stagnant and will eventually reach a steady state at the leachate/geomembrane interface. This is why a study conducted by the United States Bureau of Reclamation is useful in evaluating the plasticizer rate loss of PVC geomembrane. In this study, the USBR evaluated a 10-mil PVC geomembrane which was used to line a canal system in the 1950’s. the Bureau of Reclamation removed samples of 10 mil PVC from
