WHAT IS SOIL CEMENT- TYPES, ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES AND APPLICATIONS.

Soil Cement

Soil cement is a construction material, a mix of pulverized natural soil with small amount of Portland cement and water, usually processed in a tumble, compacted to high density. Hard, semi-rigid durable material is formed by hydration of the cement particles.

Soil cement is frequently used as a construction material for pipe bedding, slope protection and road construction as a sub base layer reinforcing and protecting the sub grade. It has good compressive and shear strength but is brittle and has low tensile strength so it is prone to forming cracks.

Soil cement mixture differs from Portland cement concrete in the amount of paste.While in Portland cement concretes the paste coats all aggregate particles and binds them together in soil cement the amount of cement is lower and therefore there are voids left, and the result is a cement matrix with nodules of uncemented material.

Types Of Soil Cement

1. Cement Modified Soil
2. Cement Treated Base
3. Soil Cement Base
4. Acrylic Copolymer

1. Cement Modified Soil (CMS)

Cement modified soil  is a sub base solution that blends cement and water with native (in-situ) soils to improve undesirable soil properties. The engineered mix forms a weather-resistant work platform for construction operations and a stronger, permanent sub grade for enhanced pavement support and capacity. Silt and clay soils, particularly when they are wet, can lead to construction problems. These soils can be soft, plastic, and difficult to compact. Cement modified soil is used to improve the engineering properties and construction characteristics of silt and clay soils by reducing this plasticity and enhancing the compaction and strength of the treated soil.

2. Cement Treated Base (CTB)

Cement treated base is a strong frost resistance base for a concrete or asphalt pavement wearing surface.Cement treated base is a mixture of aggregate materials or granular soils combined with measured amounts of Portland cement and water that hardens after compaction and curing to form a  durable paving material.

3. Soil Cement Base (SCB)

Soil cement base contains high amount of cement compared to cement modified base.It is commonly used as a cheap pavement base for roads, streets, airports and material handling areas. A seal coat is required in order to keep the moisture out. To avoid wear and tear a final coat of asphalt concrete is placed for pavement construction. 

4. Acrylic Copolymer

Acrylic copolymer is also called as rhino snot.It is a water-soluble acrylic polymer. This gains a property to penetrates the soil or sand mix and bind together.This is hence used instead of cement.When the whole mixture dries up, it become waterproof, UV resistant, solid bond which binds the soil together and reducing the dust. In higher concentration it creates a durable surface that can withstand heavy traffic, allowing existing soil to be used for roads, parking lots, trails and other heavy traffic areas.

Advantages Of Soil Cement

• Improve strength.
• Highly economical.
• Improve performance.
• Better weather resistant.
• Maintenance cost is less
• Reduce plasticity/cohesiveness.

Disadvantages Of Soil Cement

• Required proper supervision.
• Not suitable for some soil.
• Cracks may form in soil cement.
• Harmful for environment.
• Required more labor.

Applications Of Soil Cement

• Soil cement bricks.
• Airport pavements.
• Parking lots.
• City roads.