TAL at Waterworld Middle East

Technical Absorbents (TAL) will introduce its SAF (suoerabsorbent fibre) water-blocking absorbent technology for use in geotextile applications at the forthcoming Waterworld Middle East event in Doha, Qatar.

The event, which takes place between 4th and 6th February at the Qatar National Convention Centre, is aimed at those involved in the region’s water and waste water industries.

Geotextiles are traditionally permeable fabrics, which when used in conjunction with soil have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect and/or drain. They are normally sheets of materials supplied in roll form, making them easier to use for small and large-scale applications.
However, for developments that require waterproofing – landfill sites, reservoirs, dams, and other large scale civil engineering projects – it is essential for the geotextile to act as a barrier and be impermeable to liquids/gases.

“To achieve this, a superabsorbent technology can be introduced during the product manufacturing process,” explains TAL business development manager Dave Hill. “Due to its ease of conversion, blending and bonding, SAF is one of the preferred options and gives rise to geotextiles that can be used as alternatives to more traditional water-blocking solutions.”

A waterproof barrier works in a number of ways. It prevents water from seeping upwards, e.g. through cracks in an old road onto a new surface. It also stops or helps avoid the downward movement of water, water run-off and seepage.

“SAF-based waterproofing fabrics function by initially absorbing water so that they swell,”says Hill. “At a certain point this becomes an impermeable barrier to water. In addition, such linings avert the contamination of surrounding soils. This is particularly important in the construction of landfill sites. SAF is an extremely effective and versatile superabsorbent technology. It has been developed to provide extremely high rates of saline and water uptake. Furthermore, as a fibrous superabsorbent, it allows for ease of handling and gives rise to exceptionally substantive and even distribution profiles within final fabric construction. These benefits have made it the super absorbent of choice for many customers, including those within the geotextile sector.”