What is GeoBubble™ technology?

The science behind GeoBubble technology

Swimming pool covers are typically exposed to high levels of Ultra Violet (UV) radiation and chemical attack. GeoBubble is a material designed specifically for this environment, making the cover more resistant to these attacks and enabling a longer lifespan.
To understand the science of GeoBubble, it helps to look at the traditional bubble material used for pool covers. Originally their design was developed and adapted from the packaging industry, which is a high-volume, low-quality packaging bubble material with a short lifespan. Because of this, traditional bubbles have several inherent weaknesses in their design, including thin points and high residual stress areas. Thin points in a bubble design create weak points which are quickly broken down by UV rays and chemical attack. The degradation process is accelerated in areas of high stress as these areas are under constant strain. This results in the bubble material breaking down and will ultimately cause the premature failure of the pool cover. This is because of the inherent weakness within the bubble design produced by stress created in the material during manufacture. The angular profile of the traditional bubble design mould forces the material to move against the polymers natural flow characteristics applying stress which results in a thinning of the material and areas of high residual stress.
The GeoBubble has been designed to elevate these stresses during the moulding of the bubble profile. The geometric bubble allows the material to be formed without fighting the polymers rheological properties resulting in a material with a more uniform thickness, minimising the residual stress within the polymer structure.

GeoBubble’s unique features and benefits:

• Unique patented design of two bubbles joined together by a structural waistline centre section.
• No sharp corners that could result in thin or weak points in the design.
• No stress points due to the bubble’s smooth interconnected curves.
• 50% thicker than a traditional bubble material.
• Increased resilience against UV rays and chemical attack.

Why does the GeoBubble shape have a large surface area?

The GeoBubble design has a much larger footprint than most traditional bubble materials to allow for expansion of air in the bubble shape. The stiff waistline section makes the bubble strong enough to hold expanding air and will not stretch and burst under pressure. The large footprint also acts as an insulator, retaining heat in the pool, plus helps the cover stick to the water so it cannot be blown off the pool.

What is a stabilisation package?

Ultra Violet (UV) radiation is emitted by the sun and is partly absorbed by the atmosphere. UV light is destructive not only to human skin but also many man-made materials, including polyethylene and plastic products. Unless materials are specially treated, over time they become faded and brittle due to the exposure to UV light and chemicals. Additives are required as the bubble design alone will not stop premature failure of a swimming pool cover. In co-operation with suppliers and UK University partners, we have developed the best additive, stabiliser and anti-oxidant package available. This, combined with the unique bubble design, dramatically increases the lifespan of the swimming pool cover material by making it more resistant to UV light and chemical attack.

The history behind GeoBubble’s development.

The unique bubble design spent over five years in the research and development stage, in collaboration with London Metropolitan University and the University of Brighton. This synergy between academic and industrial knowledge and the pooling of resources has resulted in a highly effective product at the top of its game. In short, GeoBubble has marked a new era in high performance pool covers that offer both improved product longevity and maximum savings.