Building strong trench dams is a critical step in any pipeline project. These erosion controls not only help stabilize pipelines during installation, but also well into the future. Some pipeline projects turn to chemically synthetic materials, like polyurethane spray foam, to build water stops and trench breaks along the line. However, nature has provided an effective and ecologically friendly trench breaking solution…sodium bentonite. Let’s take a closer look at how sodium bentonite’s natural properties make it an ideal trench breaker.
What Are Trench Breaks?
Pipelines laid on any sort of incline need soil stabilization to prevent the trench from washing out. The loose aggregates used to backfill trenches are highly permeable and can create a water conduit around the pipe. Erosion around and under newly dug trenches can cause pipelines to lose their integrity, rupture, or fail. Trench breaks should provide a lasting seal that will divert water away from the pipeline without rotting or breaking down over time. These subsurface barriers should:
- Fill voids around the pipeline
- Provide stability during backfilling
- Support the pipeline while it is in operation
No matter what you call them: trench dams, trench breaks, anti-seep collars, or trench stops…choosing the right trench sealing material will impact project efficiency, cost, and environmental safety.
Benefits of Trench Breaking with Sodium Bentonite
Sodium bentonite is a natural clay made from weathered volcanic ash. It has powerful absorbing, adsorbing, and binding abilities, making it an ideal choice for any erosion control project. Let’s look at how sodium bentonite clay stacks up against injection polyurethane foam for building pipeline trench barriers:
Environmental Friendliness
Sodium bentonite does not introduce harmful synthetic chemicals into the ground, making it the most ecological and sustainable choice for trench breaking. Bentonite is easily removed and reused during pipeline repairs, and leaves nothing harmful behind if disturbed. As a rich source of volcanic minerals, it is often used as a natural soil amendment so you don’t have to worry about microplastics, off-gassing, or harmful leaching into the native soil.
Polyurethane spray foams, while relatively inert once they are cured, can generate toxic emissions when disturbed by heat, physical breakage, or UV exposure. Repairs, disassembly, or new construction on a pipeline can trigger ecologically harmful side effects when spray foams are broken down and disturbed.
Sealing Power
Once hydrated, sodium bentonite forms a dense, impenetrable barrier that self heals as ground naturally shifts and moves. Its microscopic flat, clay “plates” have a lot of surface area for binding and holding water molecules, making it the ideal seal for any type of groundwater control. Better yet, sodium bentonite’s sealing power lasts indefinitely.
While spray foam also provides a seal, it does not have the same self-healing properties as sodium bentonite clay. Over time, foam degrades, becomes brittle, and loses its sealing effectiveness especially when exposed to water, shifting ground conditions, or varying temperatures.
Cost Effectiveness
As a naturally abundant material pulled straight from the earth, sodium bentonite is a more cost effective trench plug material than spray foam. Since it is longer lasting, you will also spend less time and money on repairs. Plus, you can self install bentonite with your own crew instead of paying for specialized equipment and subcontractors.
Injection foam is typically more expensive to produce, install, and repair over the life of a pipeline project. The need for specialized equipment and skilled labor for spray foam application can further drive up costs.
Ease of Application
Applying sodium bentonite is very straightforward and simple, especially since you won’t have to schedule and wait for subcontracted installers. Placing and hydrating is all it takes, which makes it easier to use in a variety of weather conditions so you can speed up your project timeline.
Poly foam requires specialized equipment for application. It also has to be applied under specific conditions for it to properly expand and adhere, leading to delays and higher labor costs.
Versatility
Sodium bentonite’s versatility is one of its key advantages. No matter what the native soil is made of, bentonite will fill, seal, line, and stabilize. This makes it the ideal trench breaker for soils that are sandy, loamy, rocky, wet, dry…you name it.
Ground conditions can vary a lot over the length of a pipeline, making it tricky to constantly adapt your trench sealing application as you go along. Foam is more limited in its applications compared to sodium bentonite, especially in challenging environmental conditions.
Why use Western Clay®?
Since 1925, Western Clay’s high quality sodium bentonite has supported a wide range of construction around the world. We continually test our bentonite from the mine to the finished product in order to give you the best the Earth has to offer. Western Clay specializes in bentonite processing and packaging and prides ourselves on meeting the highest standards for quality and reliability at a fair price.
TrenchSeal™ from Western Clay
We take our stewardship of the land seriously and are always looking for new ways to make your job easier. That’s why we offer our TrenchSeal sodium bentonite in convenient, biodegradable bags that helps secure the eco-integrity of your dig, well into the future. TrenchSeal contains no additives or fillers and comes to you straight from our land, to your site.
Let’s hear from a Western Clay customer:
“Great product and exceptional customer service. For over 9 years now, ADA has used the Western Clay products exclusively on all of our dirt tank redevelopments and to date we have had a 100% success rate. Western Clay has proven to be a reliable partner and have always delivered a quality product on time every time.”
Jim L. (ADA Board of Directors)
Give Western Clay a call today to see how our Utah deposit’s vast reserves can help your crew complete environmentally responsible ground projects on-time and on-budget.
© 2024 Redmond Minerals Inc.
