High-Strength Ecological Soil Materials

Abstract

This study attempts to develop a recyclable, high strength, ecological soil material that does not consist of cement and is unpolluted, named high-strength ecological soil material HSESM. The production of HSESM involves calcinating soil minerals to very high temperatures, adding active minerals, using concentrated alkali to disintegrate silicate and aluminate monomers, and, using Na2SiO4 to repolymerize the soil material to a polymer that resembles the structure of zeolite. The results of the study show that the 28-day compressive strength of high strength ecological soil material exceeds 20 MPa, with flexural strength in the order of 10% of the compressive strength. The permeability of this material is categorized as moderate level according to ASTM C 1202-97. Discarded HSESM can be reverted back to powder using jaw crushers and mechanical grinding facilities. Through the four steps described previously, the recycled HSESM can be reused again.