Main properties of sands hydrophobized by alkoxysilane emulsions

Abstract

A b s t r a c tThe results of laboratory tests and geotechnical view on sands hydrophobized by alkoxysilane emulsions are presented. For the soils subjected to this process, very low permeability and no capillary elevation was observed. Laboratory tests also indicate that other physical and mechanical properties of hydrophobized sands remain nearly untouched, i.e., the considered hydrophobisation process does not reduce the strength of soils. Properly composed alkoxysilane emulsions can also solidify in pores to produce a stabilizing silicate binder. The filtration barriers in ground and soil stabilization are thus considered as possible applications of the hydrophobized soils. The process of treatment of granular soils with alkoxysilanes is neutral for the environment and the cost of implementation of the method is relatively low.

Structure of road soil cement compositions modified by complex additive based on organosilicon compounds and electrolytes

“…Today, organosilicon compounds are widely used to modify and increase the durability of construction materials. The OSC are being fixed on the material surface, and hydrophobize the walls of pores and capillaries [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. This circumstance positively affects on the improvement of frost resistance, since the adhesion of salt and ice crystals to the hydrophobic pores surface is reduced.…”

“…Studies of the effect of organosilicon compounds [3,4,10,18] and electrolytes [19][20][21] additives showed that all of them, to one extent or another, have a modifying effect. At the same time, the organosilicon compound octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) C8H17Si(OC2H5)3 addition maximized the frost resistance, and the electrolyte sodium hydroxide (SH) NaOH maximized soil cement strength [22].…”