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Microstructural Investigation of UV-Degraded Geotextiles/Geomembranes through Scanned Electron Microscopic Study



Author(s)

Vivek G. Bhartu

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DOI:10.17265/2328-2193/2017.02.002

764-E, Umrigar Building, Parsee Colony, Dadar, Mumbai 400014, India

It is well established that geotextiles/geomembranes polymers undergo degradation of their mechanical properties, electrical properties, rheological properties when exposed to UV-radiation. The degradation of strength depends upon the physical properties viz. thickness vis-à-vis mass per unit area, exposure period and the condition under which the geotextiles/geomembranes polymers are exposed. The polymers: PET/PP/PVC/HDPE widely used as geotextiles/geomembranes were exposed to artificial UV-radiation with the accelerated rate under various exposure conditions and the degradation of their mechanical properties has been evaluated. The results for degradation of strength are presented elsewhere. The visual inspection of the process of degradation of UV degraded polymers is studied through SEM micrographs and the results are presented here.

Geotextile, geomembrane, SEM, UV-degrdation.