Clay Soil Stabilization
SOIL STABILIZATION
Clay bearing soils
Claycrete II™ is a chemical soil stabilizer designed to treat the clay fraction of suitable soils — improving compaction, strength and resistance to moisture-related deterioration in roads, subgrades and infrastructure.
Instead of automatically removing and replacing marginal soil, Claycrete offers another approach: evaluate the existing material and determine whether it can be stabilized for use in your project.
DEFINITION
What is clay soil stabilization?
Clay soil stabilization is the process of improving the engineering properties of clay-bearing soils so they can perform more effectively in applications such as road construction, pavement bases, subgrades and other infrastructure.
Clay soils can change behavior as moisture conditions fluctuate. Depending on mineralogy, plasticity and other characteristics, some may shrink, swell, soften or lose strength when exposed to changing moisture.
Traditional approaches may include removing unsuitable soil, importing replacement material, mechanical blending, or using chemical stabilizers such as lime or cement. Claycrete II™ offers a chemical stabilization approach specifically designed to react with the clay fraction of suitable soils.
The treatment changes the charge of the clay fraction and reduces shrink-swell behavior while improving the density and strength of the treated material when compacted. Actual performance depends on the soil and project conditions.
RATIONAL
Why stabilize clay-bearing soil?
Clay-bearing soils are not automatically unsuitable for construction. In many cases, the challenge is understanding how the material behaves and whether its properties can be improved economically.
Improve soil strength
Stabilization can help improve the engineering performance of suitable clay-bearing soils used in road bases and subgrades.
Make better use of local materials
Where testing supports it, stabilizing existing soil may reduce the need to excavate and haul in replacement materials.
Address moisture-related movement
Some clay soils shrink or swell as moisture changes. Claycrete is designed to reduce these characteristics in suitable treated materials.
Support road & infrastructure work
Properly evaluated and constructed stabilized soils may be used in road bases, unsealed roads, haul roads and other engineered applications.