Heavy Duty Laminated GCL. Two defined film options.
HDL-GCL 020 combines a 0.20 mm LDPE surface with polymer-modified natural sodium bentonite powder. HDL-GCL 050 uses 0.50 mm LLDPE over the same reinforced composite-base construction.
Choose the laminated range or a separate unlaminated GCL to suit the ground, contact liquid and lining design.
Both HDL-GCL grades use natural sodium bentonite powder, polymer modification and a woven/nonwoven composite carrier. The dry bentonite requirement is ≥4,000 g/m², excluding polymer. PE-to-nonwoven peel strength is specified at ≥300 N/m in the bonded areas.
HDL-GCL 020 · 0.20 mm LDPE · polymer-modified bentonite powder
Kontain Heavy Duty Laminated GCL 020
Kontain HDL-GCL combines a bonded polyethylene surface with a reinforced, needle-punched clay liner. Both grades use natural sodium bentonite powder with polymer modification, held between a nonwoven cover and a woven/nonwoven composite carrier.
PE film
0.20 mm LDPE
Bentonite
Natural sodium powder + polymer
Dry bentonite
≥4,000 g/m², excluding polymer
Film peel
≥300 N/m specified minimum
0.20 mm LDPE film; specified dry bentonite mass ≥4,000 g/m² excluding polymer and PE-to-nonwoven peel ≥300 N/m in bonded areas.
HDL-GCL 050 · 0.50 mm LLDPE · polymer-modified bentonite powder
Kontain Heavy Duty Laminated GCL 050
Kontain HDL-GCL combines a bonded polyethylene surface with a reinforced, needle-punched clay liner. Both grades use natural sodium bentonite powder with polymer modification, held between a nonwoven cover and a woven/nonwoven composite carrier.
PE film
0.50 mm LLDPE
Bentonite
Natural sodium powder + polymer
Dry bentonite
≥4,000 g/m², excluding polymer
Film peel
≥300 N/m specified minimum
0.50 mm LLDPE film; specified dry bentonite mass ≥4,000 g/m² excluding polymer and PE-to-nonwoven peel ≥300 N/m in bonded areas.
Revision H supersedes Revision G. GCL reference properties are not certified test results for the finished powder/polymer laminate. Applicable methods follow GRI-GCL3 Revision 5 (21 November 2019), without a claim of GRI-GCL3 compliance.
Machine-direction GCL tensile testing uses ASTM D6768. No numerical tensile result is declared for the finished laminate.
Film, overlap and sealing options.
Product
Film
Longitudinal joint
Sealing
HDL-GCL 020
0.20 mm LDPE
400 mm released longitudinal film zone; 300 mm PE overlap
No extrusion sealing or wedge welding
HDL-GCL 050
0.50 mm LLDPE
400 mm released longitudinal film zone; 300 mm PE overlap
Qualified extrusion sealing; no wedge welding
The PE film is specified by resin type and nominal thickness. Extrusion sealing is available for HDL-GCL 050 using a qualified procedure for the film, filler and laminated assembly. Do not extrusion-seal HDL-GCL 020. Neither grade is wedge weldable.
Longitudinal-edge detail: maintain at least 300 mm direct GCL contact and a separate 300 mm PE overlap. Open full-size drawing ↗
Film remains bonded across each roll and loose at the designated longitudinal edges. Lift the loose film clear to form direct GCL-to-GCL contact, then return the PE above the joint. Measure both finished overlap widths without stretching the film. Use the project detail for end laps and field cuts; the longitudinal release zone is not an end-lap detail. Replace damaged laminated panels or use a Kontain-issued repair detail. Do not strip bonded film.
Polymer modification is selected to improve response to saline liquids and resistance to cracking during drying and rewetting while the PE surface is temporarily exposed. The material requirements distinguish the base bentonite from the modified formulation.
Material and condition
Method or basis
Specified swell
Unmodified natural sodium bentonite swell
ASTM D5890; reagent water
≥24 mL/2 g
Polymer-modified natural sodium bentonite swell
>28 mL/2 g
Polymer-modified natural sodium bentonite swell in saline fluid
>22 mL/2 g in 20,000 ppm salt water
The ASTM D5890 swell index applies to the unmodified natural sodium bentonite. Polymer-modified swell values are specified separately.
Select the formulation for the actual subgrade, contact liquids, hydration sequence and confinement. Cover promptly to protect the liner through installation.
Natural sodium bentonite quality.
HDL-GCL uses natural sodium bentonite powder specified to the material criteria in EPA Victoria BPEM 788.3, Appendix E.
Property
Requirement
Origin
Natural sodium; no soda-ash activation
Montmorillonite
>70 wt%
Carbonates
<1 wt%
Particle size
Powder; ≥80% passing 75 µm
Cation exchange capacity
≥70 meq/100 g (cmol/kg)
Unmodified base bentonite swell
≥24 mL/2 g; ASTM D5890 in reagent water
Verification frequency
At least every 50 tonnes; linked to production rolls
Kontain specifies <1 wt% carbonate, stricter than BPEM’s stated <1–2 wt% range. Mineralogy and origin requirements apply to the natural base bentonite.
UNLAMINATED RANGE
Standard, Heavy and Polymer GCL.
GCL-S, GCL-H and GCL-P are separate unlaminated constructions. Their properties are grade-specific. The HDL-GCL names identify the heavy-duty laminated powder/polymer range.
GCL-S · Needle-punched sodium-bentonite liner
Kontain GCL Standard
A needle-punched liner for containment, combining natural sodium bentonite with a nonwoven cover and woven carrier.
Dry bentonite
≥3,700 g/m²
Construction
PP nonwoven / bentonite / PP woven
Long edges
Factory-treated, self-sealing under confinement
The standard granular grade contains at least 3,700 g/m² dry bentonite.
Soils, slopes and penetrations need a project detail.
Assess lime-treated soils, limestone, recycled concrete, saline pore water and process liquids before direct contact with bentonite. Polymer modification does not remove the need for compatibility testing.
Direct crushed aggregate up to 25 mm is a grade-specific option for suitable composite-base GCLs, subject to chemistry, puncture and placement checks. Design slopes using hydrated internal and interface shear properties for the complete lining system. Keep plant off uncovered GCL and place compatible confinement promptly.
Common rolls are 5 m × 30 m; dimensions and factory edge arrangements are agreed for each order. Confirm roll mass, core clear bore and lifting compatibility. The laminated range uses polymer-modified powder. Unlaminated granular and powder options are selected by grade.
Send the liner section, slope geometry, soil grading and source, liquid chemistry, loading, penetrations and delivery location.
