Lime allows for the chemical neutralisation of clay by flocculation; It increases the bearing capacity of the treated material (by reducing plasticity) and lowers the water content of materials, which can then be treated.
Main criteria for liming:
- Clay contamination
- Frost-riven material
- Water content
- Bearing capacity
- Particle size
Treatment in quarries
Veins of clay encountered during extraction reduce the overall yield of quarries. The treatment of quarry waste or clay-bearing products maximises the use of the production equipment already installed at the quarry. As each quarry is different, the proposed equipment is adapted to each particular situation and incorporated into the continuous production process.
The particle size of the materials to be treated—up to 150 mm—must be specifically considered when defining the equipment. The continuity of treatment, through the metering of lime and by the mixer, guarantees the quality of the treated product.
Soil treatment & limed base material
The in-plant treatment of soils allows for the use of local materials in addition to in-situ treatment techniques. In this case, we are talking about limed base material.
In numerous constructions, the soil forms the base of the structure. This is the case for earthworks. But sometimes the soil cannot be exploited in its existing state. In-plant soil treatment complements in-situ soil treatment when there is a great variety of materials, a high water content or a significant depth of treatment, for example. In such cases, a proportion of the soil is excavated and replaced by material conforming to a technical specification. The growing scarcity of resources and the need to reduce the dumping of inert products in landfills have forced us to take account of environmental concerns.
According to laboratory studies, the excavated material may either be treated directly for use on the worksite or for other applications. In-plant treatment allows for the treatment of heterogeneity, granular structure, water content, bearing capacity, plasticity and frost resistance.
Excavated materials treatment
The recycling of excavated materials, e.g. for trenches, is a major application for this technique.
