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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
FLEXIBLE POLYPROPYLENE
PROPERTY METHOD UNITS .3 .5 .75 1.0 1.5
Thickness ASTM D 5199 mm 0.3 0.5 0.75 1.0 1.5
Polymer Type (1) ASTM D 1777 - FPP FPP FPP FPP FPP
Specific Gravity ASTM D 792 g/cm3 .91 .91 .91 .91 .91
Tensile Strength at Yield (MD, TD) ASTM D 6693 IV kN/m 5, 4 5, 4 5, 4 5, 4 5, 4
Tensile Strength at Break (MD, TD) ASTM D 6693 IV kN/m 28, 22 28, 22 24, 20 22, 18 22, 22
Elongation at Break ASTM D 6693 IV % 900 900 900 900 900
Tear Resistance (MD, TD) ASTM D 1004 C N 25, 25 35, 35 45, 45 65, 65 65, 65
Puncture Resistance ASTM D 4833 N 90 150 210 250 250
Water Vapour Transmission (23 C, 50% RH) ASTM E 96 g/m2/24hrs - - - 0.1 - 0.12 -
Potable Water BS 6920 - Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Methane (CH4)Transmission (23 C, 50% RH) - cc/m2/24hrs - - - - 65
Carbon Black Content OEE 8.2.4-02-01 % 2-3 2-3 2-3 2-3 2-3
OIT ASTM D 3895 minutes > 100 > 100 > 100 > 100 > 100

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CHEMICAL RESISTANCE Table 1: Material swelling
Chemical Flexible Polypropylene HDPE PVC
  % % %
Methanol 0.44 1.45 -8
Water 0.5 1.5 3
1-Propanol 1 1 -4
Acetone 4 4.5 83
Tetralin 92 12.3 60
Iso-octane 137 11.5 1
Orthoxylene 182 20 8
Indolene 198    
Cyclohexane 356 25 4
Trichloroethylene 500 21 395

Note: Percent swelling when immersed in 100% concentration of the specific chemical.

Chemical Resistance Table 1 shows the swelling of three common geomembrane resins when immersed in different chemicals. Based on this data flexible polypropylene would not be suggested for secondary containment of most hydrocarbons.

For this reason, flexible polypropylene is not suggested for containment of:

1. Hazardous wastes with high concentrations of petroleum products

2. Aromatic hydrocarbons

3. Chlorinated organic hydrocarbons

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE table 2: Performance in contact with common chemicals
Chemical Concentration (Weight %) Temp. (C) Residual Weight (%) Residual Stress at Break (%) Residual Elongation at Break (%) Satisfactory Not Suitable
Acetic acid Pure 50       S  
Acetic anhydride Pure 50       S  
Acetone Pure 50 99.4 111 94 S  
Aluminium hydroxide   23       S  
Aluminium sulfate 38 23       S  
Ammonium chloride 30 50 99.5 103 91 S  
Benzene   23         NS
Calcium carbonate Saturated 50       S  
Calcium hydroxide Concentrated 23       S  
Cupric sulfate Saturated 50       S  
Cyclone-hexane Pure           Swells
Dimethyl-amine   40 23     S  
Ethanol Pure 23       S  
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE table 2 cont.
Chemical Concentration (Weight %) Temp. (C) Residual Weight (%) Residual Stress at Break (%) Residual Elongation at Break (%) Satisfactory Not Suitable
Ethanediol 40 23       S  
Ethylacetate 50 23       S  
Ethylene glycol Concentrated 23 97 88 100 S  
Ethylene glycol Concentrated 70 100.9 95 100 S  
Formal-dehyde 37 23       S  
Gasoline 35 23         Swells
Glycerine   30       S  
Hexane Pure 23         Swells
Indolene (unleaded gas) Pure 23 193       Swells 138 %
Iso-octane             Swells 198 %
Isopropanol 30 23 99.8 106 120 S  
Kerosene (2) Pure 23 99 71 88   Swells
Lactic acid Pure 50 99.8 102 91 S  
MEK 1000ppm 23 100.2 98 86 S  
MEK Pure   110       Swells
Methanol 50 23       S  
Methylene chloride Conc. 23         NS
Methyl-isobutyl-ketone 80 23       S  
N-methyl-morpholine oxide 60 23   95 91 S  
Oil ASTM 1 Pure           Swells
Oil ASTM 2 Pure           Swells
Oil ASTM 3 Pure           Swells
Oil OB/22AT Oil of Linseed 35 Pure 30         Swells
Vegetal oil Pure 23 132 84 100   Swells 32 %
Oil of chicken Pure 23 131 92 97   Swells 32 %
Oil of beef Pure 23 150 56 94   Swells 50 %
Oil of pork Pure 23 127 85 100   Swells 27 %
Petrol (1) Pure 23 86 100 100   NS
Potassium bromide Saturated 23       S  
N-Propanol Pure 23 101     S  
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE table 2 cont.
Chemical Concentration (Weight %) Temp. (C) Residual Weight (%) Residual Stress at Break (%) Residual Elongation at Break (%) Satisfactory Not Suitable
Proplonic acid Pure 23       S  
Sodium chloride Saturated 23       S  
Sodium hydroxide 100% 23 99.9     S  
Sodium hydroxide 100% 50 99.9     S  
Salted water At saturation 70 99.1 88 100 S  
Solns 100 30% 23         Swells
Stearic acid Pure 50 99.8 102 90 S  
Sulfuric acid 65% 50 99.9 103 91 S  
Sulfuric acid (1) 35% 23 99.7 94 100 S  
Tetralin Conc. 23 91       Swells 92%
Toluene 475ppm 23 102 91 97 S  
Toluene Pure 23 178       Swells
Trichloro-ethylene 475ppm 23 102 101 97 S  
Trichloro-ethylene Pure 23 477 115 67   Swells 500%
Tetrachloro-ethylene Pure 23 555       Swells
Turpentine Pure 23 95 90 100   Swells
Wine Pure 23       S  
Xylene 150ppm 23 101.5 97 98 S  
Xylene Pure 23 177       NS

Note 1: Test done during 2 weeks

Note 2: Kerosene shows an increase of weight of 140 %, then a decrease and plateau at 100% Kerosene and petrol extract some of the low MW components of the FPA.

CHEMICAL RESISTANCE table 3: Resistance to Chlorine
  HDPE Geomembrane Flexible Polypropylene
Temperature (C) 20 60 20 60
Chlorine, water (2% sat.sol) S S L L
Chlorine, aqueous (Sat. sol) L NS NS NS
Chlorine, dry gas (100%) L NS NS NS

Important Notes:

  1. S: Satisfactory, geomembrane is resistant to the given chemical at the given concentration and temperature. No mechanical or chemical degradation is encountered.
  2. L: Limited, geomembrane may be attacked by some factors, concentration, pressure and temperature should affect the performance of geomembrane.
  3. NS: Not Satisfactory, geomembrane is not resistant to the given chemical, concentration and temperature. Mechanical or chemical degradation is encountered.
  4. Sat. sol.: Saturated aqueous solution, prepared at 20 C.
  5. Sol: Aqueous solution at a concentration higher than 10%, but not saturated.
  6. Dil. sol.: Dilute aqueous solution at a concentration is equal to or lower than 10%.

The data in all tables is intended as guides only and is not intended as a warranty or guarantee. Permathene Ltd. reserves the right to change the specification contained herein without notice.