Measured Effects of Liquid Soil Stabilizers on Engineering Properties of Clay

Stabilization of pavement subgrade soils and base materials has traditionally relied on treatment with lime, cement, and sometimes fly ash. Marketed as alternatives to these conventional bulk soil stabilizers, a variety of concentrated liquid chemical products are sold by several companies. Most transportation agencies, however, are hesitant to specify these nontraditional liquid stabilizers without reliable data to support vendor claims of product effectiveness. Standard laboratory soil tests were conducted to measure changes in the engineering properties of five clay soils when treated with three liquid chemical products. The tests involved three reference clays (kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite), two high-plasticity natural clays, and three representative liquid stabilizers (ionic, polymer, enzyme types). Tests were conducted on untreated control soil samples and on samples treated with each product at the suppliers’ recommended application rates. All of the test specimens were prepared in accordance with a specified 10-step protocol that allowed objective comparisons of the test results. Each treated and untreated soil was characterized in terms of the Atterberg limits, compacted unit weight, one-dimensional free swell potential, and undrained triaxial shear strength. Given some variation in the test samples, the test results did not show consistent, significant changes in the properties of these soils as a result of treatment with these three products. Higher application rates might yield more favorable results. Clearly, independent laboratory evaluations with project-specific soils are warranted before the use of these proprietary liquid stabilizers in the field.