What is a difference between compacted clay liners and geosynthetic clay liners? Many of us are wondering. If you’re designing landfills, ponds, or construction projects in particular. Both keep waste and water from seeping into the ground. They’re not the same. Compactor clay liners are what has been used forever. Geosynthetic clay liners are now making waves. Why? They’re convenient and easy to use. In this article, we’re going to break it all down. We’re going to look at what they are and what is different about them. We’ll discuss what might work for you. Let’s get going!
Table of Contents
What are Compacted Clay Liners Used For?
Compacted clay liners are straightforward. They are made of clay soil. It is dug by workers and taken to site and pressed firmly. The aim? To create an impermeable and dense layer that doesn’t let water through. Think about a natural wall.
These liners are usually put in landfills. They keep bad things like leachate—waste water—out of groundwater. Clays are great because they don’t let water through. But it has to be pressed to just right. Usually it’s about 0.75 to 1 meter thick. That’s a whole lot of clay!
What are Geosynthetic Clay Liners-GCL?
Geosynthetic clay liners are type of synthetic materials with more popularities nowdays. They are made by filling between two layers of geotextile with bentonite clay. Geotextile is a type of strong fabric—woven or non-woven fabric. The bentonite is a special type. It expands with water and closes pores. The layers are sewn or glued by workers for support.
Geosynthetic clay liners are very thin—just 5 to 10 millimeters. Don’t let that confuse you. They are both efficient and durable. They are generally being utilized in landfills, canals, ponds, and tunnels. They are gaining popularity very rapidly. So why is that? They are simple to install and very effective.
Major Differences Between CCL and GCL
Let us put them against each other. Here is a comparison:
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Material and Structure
Compacted clay liners consist entirely of clay. It is nature-based and dug up on site. Highly compacted clay is used to form a wall. That is it.
The geosynthetic clay liners are recent developments. They are made up of clay and geotextiles. When there is leakage, it swells. Geotextiles hold it in place. It is natural and engineering.
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Thickness and Space
Compacted clay liners are extremely thick. That is to say 0.75 to 1 meter thick. That’s a lot of space. In a landfill, that’s wasted space for garbage.
GCLs are really shallow. Only between 5 and 10 millimeters. That is shallow! Space saver. Space for additional waste or whatever it is you’re treating.
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Hydraulic Conductivity (Permeability)
Hydraulic conductivity is how quickly water travels through anything. Both 2 types of clay liners are designed to make it low. Compacted clay liners can easily do this—about 10⁻⁷ cm/sec. It is variable though. Moisture content, density, and clay quality are involved. When these are changed, there are cracks.
Geosynthetic clay liners also achieve that 10⁻⁷ cm/sec mark. Bentonite helps. It is what swells up with water, closing it. It is found to work better with chemicals or with changes in weather. Consistency is the key here.
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Installation Process
It is quite laborious to install compacted clay liners. You haul clay to site. Dump it. Get it distributed. Compact it. It is equipment-intensive and time-consuming. Weather can get in your way too.
Geosynthetic clay liners are simple. They’re rolled on pallets and shipped. Roll them out and you’ve overlapped the edges. No equipment required and fewer things to do. Less time to do it. That is a big advantage for efficiency.
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Long-term Performance and Durability
They are both durable for use. However, they are not infallible. Freezing and wet/dry stress will kill them. They do not heal themselves. That is a long-term flaw.
It is more powerful. It self-heals in minor puncturing. It is better in weather. Freeze-thaw or wet-dry is considered. They last longer in the long term compared with geo clay liners.
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Cost and Availability
The compacted clay liners can be cheap—if you happen to have local clay. If you’re going to truck it in, it is expensive. All that work is expensive too. It is a crapshoot based on location.
They are made factory-to-order. Quality is preserved. Less difficult to move as they’re rolls. More expensive to buy up front. Saved cost on installation. They are usually the money-saving choice.
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Environmental Impact
Compacted clay liners utilize local clay. That minimizes processing. Nonetheless, the fuel is required to transport and compact it. It is also a consumer of natural resources.
Geosynthetic clay liners are eco-friendly in another sense too. They use less material. There is less energy to install. Leaks are plugged by the bentonite and protect groundwater. Both are eco-friendly in a different taste.
Strengths and Weakenesses Between Compacted Clay Liners and Geosynthetic Clay Liners
Now, let’s balance the both sides of pros and cons.
Compacted Clay Liners
- Pros: Inexpensive if clay is nearby. Excellent at shutting out chemicals. Sturdy and thick.
- Cons: Hard to set up. Weather stress causes it to crack. Needs plenty of space.
Geosynthetic Clay Liners
- Advantages: Easy to install. Self-healant. Space-saving and slim.
- Drawbacks: Increased initial investment. Geotextiles may become dehydrated with time. Reduced chemical buffering.
Which One Would You Select?
So which clay liner is better? Depending on your situation. Got a landfill space and some local clay? Compacted clay liners are your best choice. They’re inexpensive and effective if you’ve got the right conditions.
Poor weather or limited site to work on? Geosynthetic clay liners are more ideal. They’re fast to install and can tolerate site variability easily. Low budget? Labor cost savings using GCL may be the decider.
Think about your occupation. A wetland pond might love to utilize GCL as a sealant. A large landfill containing native clay might prefer CCL. Choose the clay liner that fits your projects best.
Conclusion
How are geosynthetic clay liners and compacted clay liners different? There is plenty. Geosynthetic clay liners are man-made and are thin and easy to install. Compacted clay liners are natural and heavy and difficult to install. One utilizes geotextile and bentonite. CCL employs packed clay. One is locally cheaper; the other is time and space-saving. They seal and block leakage and protect the ground. So there is no way that geosynthetic clay liners are replacing all of them—convenience, durability, efficiency. However, there is still space for compacted clay liners. Select what does better for your jobs. In this way, you can’t go wrong with it.
FAQs
Q: What are compacted clay liners made of?
A: Compacted clay liners are made of natural clay soil. It is dug by workers and pressed tightly. It is a thick sheet and water is not able to pass through it.
Q: How do geosynthetic clay liners work?
A: There are between them two layers of bendonite clay and geotextile. Bendonite is prone to swelling on getting wet. It closes leak points and inhibits water flow through them.
Q: Which is much easier to install—CCL or GCL?
A: Geosynthetic clay liner is easier to install compared with that of CCL.They’re rolled up—just untuck and overlap. Compacted clay liners are more difficult to install. You should haul it, put it down and tamp it.
Q: Are geosynthetic clay liners more durable than compacted clay liners?
A: Yes, generally. Geosynthetic clay liners are self-healing and resist weathering changes better. Compacted clay liners can crack as a result of wet-dry or freeze-thaw cycles.
Q: Which liner is cheaper?
A: It depends. Compacted clay liners are cheaper if the clay is nearby. Geosynthetic clay liners are costlier upfront but save in labor. Location and installation decide the winner.
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