FAQs
We are not contractors. PowerCem promote and supply three core products, manufactured by the parent company in the Netherlands, to the UK construction sector. The application of the products is carried out by specialist contractors or manufacturers who either install soil stabilisation or manufacture concrete products or other cementitious based materials. Installation of our RoadCem soil stabilisation product is largely carried out by one of our authorised installation partners, however we can provide initial site assistance and guidance for contractors who may wish to become an approved installer.
RoadCem acts as a catalyst within the cement hydration process, producing extended crystalline growths within the cement bound material. These nano-scale needle like crystals create a lattice matrix which binds the soil particles together. This contrasts with normal cement bonding where contact point gluing between adjacent soil particles occurs to develop strength. The RoadCem lattice binding produces much higher flexural stiffness and compressive strength of the end product, thereby making it more durable to repeated loadings. Want to know more? This Delft University Phd report may be of interest – Delft University – RoadCem Report
The extent of the environmental benefits which can be attributed to the use of our products comes in many different forms: from reduced truck movements assisting in the well being of project neighbours who will benefit from better air quality and noise reduction through to the immobilisation of pollutants and toxic elements in the remediation of contaminated sites.
Our RoadCem soil stabilisation involves the treatment of the in-situ subsoil. There is no need to import primary aggregates by truck or include geosynthetics such as geotextiles or geogrids. Our Technical Library contains a Life Cycle Assessment report which illustrates the low carbon footprint of a RoadCem solution over conventional road construction – the same benefits can be applied to temporary structures. Each project comparison will be different however generally we would expect to see a +50% carbon footprint benefit from using a RoadCem single layer stabilisation solutionover traditional methods.
Yes you can – there are differing degrees of reinstatement depending on the objectives. The simplest being to just re-pulverise the stabilised layer in-situ; however cement soil stabilisation does raise the pH of the subsoils and if you want a full environmental reinstatement then that too is possible. You may want to take a look at our brochure which covers some of the important items. PowerCem Soil Reintstatment Process Summary
Soil stabilisation involves the mixing of a ‘binder’ (cement or lime) into the in-situ soils. The more binder which is added the more strength is gained by the soils. Every soil is different and therefore requires differing %’s of binder; as a consequence, site soil sampling and laboratory testing are needed to determine the most appropriate binder mix to achieve stabilisation. There are a variety of soil stabilisation methods on the market and a wide range of soil stabilisation contractors – RoadCem focuses on soil stabilisation with cement binders.
We operate with a large number of partners in the UK, none of them exclusively. If you are interested to learn more about one of our products and how we may be able to work together either on a project basis or a longer term arrangement then please do contact us.
Lime stabilisation and modification are an alternative method of soil treatment used by ground stabilisation contractors. The hydraulic lime can dry out wet soils sufficiently to enable short term site access or the compaction of the treated materials. Often the application of lime is followed by the use of a cement binder to achieve higher strengths and longer durability of the stabilised layer.
When answering this question it is important to separate out the different types of soil stabilisation on the market; soil ‘enhancement’ and lime ‘modification’ are low dose stabilisation processes and rely on having a more permanent surface covering used above them, such as stone chippings or concrete ‘armoured’ layers. Essentially they are providing an improved foundation bearing layer. As with all permanent road construction, drainage of the foundation is important to the longevity of the road, and this is also true of these forms of soil treatemnt to prevenet any softening of the enhanced or modified layers. A RoadCem stabilised soil layer using a higher cement binder content with the nano-scale benefits produces a stronger, stiffer and more robust stabilised layer. Whilst it is always good practice to ensure adequate surface and sub-surface drainage for any temporary or permanent stabilised soil structure it is importnat to note that RoadCem layers are highly impermeable and can tolerate repeated flood events and high ground water – making them ideal for temporary works applications especially in low lying flood plains or over soft soils. Details of how RoadCem has been used in Mexico with UNESCO can be found here – UNESCO RoadCem Mexico
Yes we can. Recent UK projects demonstrate the performance of RoadCem in preventing secondary sulphate heave in soils with TPS levels >>0.5%. This effect is independently verified for TPS levels upto 12% by recently published research work from Coventry University, (see link below). Further afield PowerCem projects in South and Central America have shown just how effective RoadCem stabilisation is when dealing with high sulphate soils, effectively eliminating their swell potential on large scale infrastructure projects. This unique RoadCem attribute enables a much wider range of soils types to be considered as candidates for stabilisation. Similarly highly organic clays, loam soil clays and enriched subsoils can all be stabilised with RoadCem technology ensuring less soils are exported as ‘waste’ materials from site. Stabilised Soils – Coventry University Sept 2020
Its a big question, but one with a simple answer…. definately YES!
The Soil Association tells us that in just one gram of top soil (a quarter of a tablespoon) there can be can up to 10 billion organisms! It’s important to remember that our surface soils are also a finite resource which we often take for granted, often forgetting the vital role they play as a major carbon repository. Our surface soils act as a huge carbon sink helping to absorb and store carbon in our complex global eco-system.
At PowerCem we are dedicated to enabling the retention of our top soils and subsoils on UK construction projects; reducing the default use of primary aggregates and the frequent disposal of these precious soils to landfill as a ‘construction waste’.