ABSTRACT
To investigate unusually poor f i e l d performance, i . e . , forensic analysis To assess and keep track of the aging process To predict long-term performance To be able to formulate better compounds knowing the precise ingredients of those currently i n use
I t w i l l be noted that this concluding chapter of the book forms somewhat of a departure from the previous chapters, i n that focus i s on the microscopic (or molecular) l e v e l rather than on macroscopic (or large scale) behavior of the geomembrane. This being the case, i t bears heavily on chemical analysis methods of which there i s a tremendous body of available information, as for example Skoog and West (1980), Turi (1981), Haslam (1972) and Krause et a l . (1983). Furthermore, i n the polymer i d e n t i f i c a t i o n area this information i s changing and growing rapidly. Thus a good deal of s e l e c t i v i t y i n choosing the methods to be presented i s required. The methods we w i l l focus upon are l i s t e d i n below, and brief section w i l l be written on each method:
thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) d i f f e r e n t i a l scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermomechanical analysis (TMA) infrared spectroscopy (IR) chromatography (GC or HPLC) density determination (Q) melt index (MI) gel permeation chromatography (GPC)
As a preview of the discussion to follow, Table 15.2 summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of each of the methods.
