About AGA Group - Special Projects Division

A.G.A Claymat BFG5000 high technology natural lining system

There are a number of benefits to using the Claymat BFG5000 liner and depending on site conditions and substrate this may prove more effective than a geo-membrane liner. This liner is an extremely dense Bentonite liner of low thickness that provides securely sealed water containment structures of any size.

A woven geo-fabric (carrier) and reinforcement layer is embedded with powdered bentonite; this is topped by a non-woven synthetic geo-textile layer.

Bentonite in powdered form is used to repair leaking banks, structures and dams. The A.G.A. Group is specialist in sealing leaking clay ponds using many technologies amongst which bentonite in particulate form is an important tool.

Benefits

Economic and environmentally sound alternative to synthetic liners
Bituminous products and coatings
Dense and slim with a high bond and shear strength
Superior to conventional compacted clay lining methods
High puncture and tear resistance
Long-term protection against ground water seepage

Advantages at a glance:

Low product weight means minimum transport costs. One lorry load covers up to 4000m2
Quick and trouble free installation: no heavy compactors or complicated welding equipment.
Defined sealing efficiency - consistent thickness and an extremely low k value ensure exactly defined sealing properties.
Large product width - minimises lost coverage due to fewer overlaps.
High, long-term shear strength provided by the fibre reinforcement which also prevents lateral migration of the bentonite.
The self-sealing properties of A.G.A. Claymat BFG5000 secure the integrity of any open water containment system.

In the event of damage, water will cause the bentonite to hydrate and thus, render the liner impermeable. The structure is permanently protected – even small cracks and voids will self-seal. A.G.A Claymat BFG5000 offers superior technical properties, significant advantages in cost savings, ease of installation and outstanding performance.

Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs) are self-sealing barriers with a composite structure that utilises the strength of millions of needle-punched fibres to secure a uniform layer of high swelling sodium bentonite. This balanced combination of polymer fibres and a naturally occurring clay mineral creates the ultimate sealing layer with high long-term shear strength. GCLs are the industry standard for mineral sealing layers worldwide. Once hydrated, bentonite is an effective barrier against liquids, vapours, and gases.

The A.G.A Group has vast experience in the field of pond and lake construction and over the last 25 years through the Joint partnership ventures and turnkey projects has had a most successful record of working with, and for, clients throughout the UK. As an organisation we have close working relationships with the Environment Agency, Local Authorities and British Waterways.

Technical note:
Needle punched fabrics are used across a variety of sectors, the uses are almost limitless. The use of the process in the aquatic sector is in the form of liners and membranes such as fabric encased geo-synthetic clay liners (GCLs). These liners are needle punch reinforced composites which combine two durable geo-textile outer layers with a uniform core of natural sodium bentonite clay to form a hydraulic barrier. Needle punch methodology is used to protect polypropylene and butyl liners by placing it underneath and also as required above the liner.

Fibres from the cap/top non-woven geo-textile are needle punched through the layer of Bentonite and incorporated into the carrier/bottom geo-textile (either woven or a non-woven). A proprietary heat treating process – the Thermal Lock process – is then used to modify and more permanently lock the needle punched fibres into place by best burnishing the carrier geo-textile surface. Unique properties, including increased internal shear resistance and long-term creep resistance result from this production.

When hydrated under a confining load, the Bentonite swells to form a low permeability clay layer with the equivalent hydraulic protection of several feet of compacted clay. The excellent hydraulic properties and slope performance of the GCLs make the product ideal for many lining and cap containment projects

Download Claymat Technical Spec Sheet

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Last Updated ( Thursday, 27 March 2008 18:47 )