Soil is a super abundant natural building material which is available on most sites at little or no cost, yet, quite useless if allowed to turn to dust or mud.
Ecobond hardened soil dramatically increases the water resistance and strength of soil creating a new, cost effective and durable building material.
Ecobond Slab with a slurry seal.
Soil is a super abundant natural building material which is available on most sites at little or no cost, yet, quite useless if allowed to turn to dust or mud.
Ecobond hardened soil dramatically increases the water resistance and strength of soil creating a new, cost effective and durable building material.
Approximately 3% Ecobond combined with most soils dispels the inherent flaws of soil and transforms it into an excellent building material for the construction of roads, houses, dams and many other applications. Ecobond works well with most soil types, preferably less than 20% clay, Ecobond does not glue rocks together, a finer aggregate is required between rocks.
Since soil can be transformed into a useable and durable building material, Ecobond can be used to construct high quality roads at very low cost. In this application (see image), the on site soil was combined with Ecobond, compacted and a 6mm bitumen slurry was used to seal the road. The road has carried more than 15 million vehicles (1000 large trucks per day) since 1996. The completed road costs considerably less than a conventional road.
Ecobond can be used in many fields as a new low cost solution:
Roads:
Vastly improved bearing capacity and weather resistance of gravel or surfaced roads, driveways, parking lots, yards, pavements, paths and pothole repairs, etc.
Structures:
Walls, floors, foundations of houses, schools, clinics, offices, factories, shops, sheds, embankments, and support structures.
Water Storage:
Dams, ponds, canals, tanks, waterproofing, riverbanks, dykes, erosion and mud control.
Stabilisation:
Embankments, railway lines, dust control, underground grouting, tunnels, basements, fence posts, pylons, poles, pipes, surface coatings, landing strips, sports fields, military, waste/pollution control, artificial rocks, statues or decorative features.
Ecobond fills the gap between soil as a building material and the more expensive conventional building materials.
Ecobond is a low cost construction material that can be used as a tool to improve living conditions.
Governments and companies, in the fields of housing and infrastructure, can supply completed roads, houses, clinics and schools to the public at low cost.
The low cost makes this possible on a larger scale than was possible before. Clean drinking water and fresh food can also be delivered as roads and water canals, ponds can be built at low cost.
Ecobond benefits the environment through reducing dust from roads, mine dumps or dusty sites. Toxins and pollutants from refuse dumps can be contained, Ecobond dykes, dams and riverbanks reduce flood damage and Ecobond can be used to prevent erosion and creeping sand. Ecobond is inert and ecologically friendly once reacted and benefits the environment in many ways.
Ecobond can create many jobs, create infrastructure and reduce transport costs with roads in better condition (less damage to vehicles.)
The benefits of Ecobond
Ecobond Pond for Elephants
- Substantially reduces cost of construciton
- Job creation improves standard of living and broadens government tax base
- Improved infrastructure stimulates economic growth
- Clean drinking water improves health
- Irrigation water provides food and nutrients in dry periods or arid regions
- Products and customers can get to the market place with better roads
- Affordable shelter improves health and living standards
- Better roads reduce accidents and damage to vehicles.
- Reduces dust, improves health (asbestos, mine dumps).
- Contains pollutants and toxins in refuse dumps, protecting underground water supplies.
- Reduces erosion or flood damage (protects wetlands).
- Ecobond is inert and ecologically friendly.
- Using soil for housing/bricks instead of wood protects forests and ecosystems.
- Ecobond reduces harmful nuclear radiation.
- More housing, clinics, schools etc. at lower cost.
Ecobond Slab - Used without a seal.
The four main factors that determine the strength of Ecobond:
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Soil Type: Ecobond is compatible with a broad range (80%+) of soils but is best suited to use with a well-graded soil, preferably with ample fines. More than 20% clay is not recommended. Some pebbles or stones in soil work well but Ecobond does not glue stones together without finer soil in between.
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Dosage Rate: Typical dosage rates are: (Ecobond Weight / Soil Weight):
Ecobond Dosage Applcation Minimum Maximum Roads 1% 3% Dams & Ponds 2% 4% Walls & Floors 3% 4% -
Moisture content: Optimum moisture content (OMC) or rather slightly above, facilitates even distribution and optimum compaction. A moisture content above 25% has a detrimental effect on the Ecobond reaction.
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Compaction: Ecobond is an excellent compaction aid. Manual application is possible because Ecobond does not require much compaction although some compaction is essential.
Ecobond is very different from and vastly superior to previous chemical soil stabilizers. Ecobond really works if applied correctly.
Ecobond Slab Construction
1. The surface is ripped to the required depth and the Ecobond is sprayed on.
2. The soil is then mixed with Ecobond using a rotovator and/or grader.
3. The Ecobond SoilSlab is then levelled and shaped.
4. Using a heavy roller the Ecobond SoilSlab is then compacted.
5. The final product is a smooth, safe and durable driving surface.
After more than 3000 scientific laboratory tests, field tests and projects the strength, water resistance and durability of Ecobond has been thoroughly proven.
Ecobond dramatically increases the bearing capacity of a soil. The graph on the right illustrates the wet and dry strengths of Ecobond in relation to the South African road standards for freeways, main roads and suburban roads respectively. The soil used was a G5 material; combined with Ecobond it was upgraded to a C3 material.
Water permeability tests are excellent. (> 10-7 cm/sec)
Higher dosages attained 13mPa strengths, comfortably exceeding the 7mPa top SABS brick standard.
A19 durability tests passed 45 days with minimal particle loss. (7.28% at 100% compaction)
Maintenance is low cost and simple.
