Reaction Products and Properties of Clay Mixed with Lime

점토와 석회의 혼합에 의한 반응생성물과 물성변화

Soft marine clay deposits pose several foundation problems. Generally, lime stabilization is used worldwide for solidifying of soft marine clay deposits. In this paper, a series of laboratory tests were conducted to verify clay-lime reaction. A clay was collected from Pusan, which was mixed with various quantities of quick lime and slaked lime. Various compounds produced by clay-lime reaction were identified by X-ray diffraction analysis. The physico-chemical properties of the clay were also investigated. Compounds such as calcium silicate hydrate (CSH), calcium aluminate hydrate (CAH), calcium aluminate (CA), hillebrandite, and gehlenite were identified. It is likely that such compounds were mainly produced by pozzolanic reaction. Based on the change of physico-chemical properties obtained by the reaction, the water content was considerably decreased when lime was added to the clay. In addition, unconfined strength was increased. In the other hand, quick lime was more effective than slaked lime in decreasing and increasing of the water content and unconfined strength, respectively. Fewer cracks were produced when the clay was mixed with quick lime. It is suggested that these beneficial changes produced by the mixing of the clay and lime depend on the properties of compounds obtained by chemical reaction.