Stabilization of marginal aggregates with hydraulic and puzzolanic binders based on waste materials

Abstract

Natural sand deposits and waste screenings from gravel pits and quarries are abundant in parts of Sweden. Investigations have been made to stabilize such materials with binders based on waste materials. Both laboratory work and test roads have been performed. In the latter case, mainly secondary roads have been strengthened with a plant-mixed bases.Good results have been achieved with a binder made of milled granulated blast furnace slag, activated with lime or especially with both lime and waste gypsum. Sand and screenings from gravel often contain organic material, deleterous with the binders studied. In such cases, the gypsum addition also seems to counteract the negative effect of the organic material.Fly ash has recently been available in Sweden. Tests made with fly ash-lime, as often used for stabilization abroad, have shown too slow binding for a rather cold climate. Addition of waste gypsum, calcium chloride, alkali-salts or use of an alkali-rich cement kiln dust instead of commercial lime can improve the binding properties. Different fly ashes, however, react in different ways. It is often more suitable to use fly ash-cement as a binder, especially with poorly graded aggregates. The fly ash, added in an optimum amount, work as a filler and high immediate stabilities can be achieved at a correct water content. The puzzolanic properties of the fly ash, at the same time, makes it possible to reduce the cement content considerably in comparison with the case when only portland cement is used as a binder.Promising laboratory work has also been done with binders consisting of condensed silica fume or ash from fluidized bed coal combustion, both in combination with lime.