What is Polymer

The word Polymer comes from the Greek "poly" meaning many, and "meros", parts or units. A polymer is a group of many units. You combine many "monomers" (individual units) to create a polymer. Mixing various monomers, results in a " copolymer " - such is SoilFix VR2 .

Polymeric materials are characterized by long chains of repeated molecule units known as "mers". These long chains intertwine to form the bulk of the plastic. The nature by which the chains intertwine determine the plastic's macroscopic properties and binding strength.

Diag 1

Typically, the polymer chain orientations are random and give the plastic an amorphous structure. Amorphous plastics have good impact strength and toughness. They do not mix with water, however with other polymer additives, the Soil Stabiliser polymer will use water as a transport means to lubricate the sand particles at molecular level. Under mechanical compaction, the chains of Soil Stabiliser polymers are inter-locked (see Diag 1). The more the compaction the stronger these bonds become and the stronger the soil stabilization becomes. As the water between the soil particles evaporate, a film layer forms to prevent water ingress. The water will evaporate in a reverse osmosis manner as well as gravitate into the compacted soil layer below, thereby further strengthening the sub-layer.

Brief History of Polymers

Discovery of polymer materials has often been accidental. First volume production plastic: Celluloid, 1868 .

First fully synthetic product: Bakelite, volume production started in 1909. Acetylene, obtained from coal, was originally the source of raw material for polymer production. Today, most raw materials for polymer manufacture are obtained from the cracking of naphtha in oil refineries .

SoilFix polymers (Poly/methyl methacrylate (PMMA)) are hydrophobic and do not dissolve in water. (Alcohol groups are hydrophilic). Water merely acts as a transport mechanism in assisting the polymer in lubricating the sand particles. Once the water had dissipated the SoilFix polymer will operate between 100ºC and -100ºC (-150ºF)

PMMA doesn't dissolve in water, so dispersing PMMA in water requires we use another polymer to make water and PMMA compatible with each other.

Often lubricating oils and hydraulic fluids tend to get really viscous and even gummy when they get really cold, but when a little bit PMMA is dissolved in these oils and fluids, they don't get viscous in the cold, and machines can be operated down to -100ºC (-150ºF), Simarly, the SoilFix emulsion, free of water will function in extreme conditions.

Thermal expansion/contraction is less of a mechanical phenomenon and more of a thermodynamic event. Thermal expansion is the result of increased free-volume that arises from the added vibrational (thermal) energy. The more you heat the polymer, the more it vibrates, creating additional free-volume around each molecule, thus expanding the molecular chains. The converse is also applicable with the chains binding tighter in colder climates.

SoilFix

SoilFix is a water-based polymer solution specifically developed as a soil binder for the stabilisation of sub-base and base course layers for all road pavements. The stabilisation depth is dependant on the traffic and load requirements of the pavement.

SoilFix Characteristics

•  Coats and binds granular material, ideally with a plasticity index between 3 and 15
•  Binds granular material increasing modulus strength up to 8500MPa
•  Fatigue testing shows 7million load cycles without failure i.e. 100 times stronger than cement stabilisation.
•  Exceeds minimum UCS strength requirements of 1.2 MPa for pavement design requirements
•  Decreases pavement depth (and material) due to increased strength and fatigue life
•  Very high tensile strength – yet flexible
•  Resists water ingress

SoilFix Application

•  Using grader; or mechanical stabiliser (i.e. Wirtgen), rip or mill SoilFix into the base or subgrade material to the specified depth according to the pavement design.
•  SoilFix should be applied at a rate of 0.5% by weight of the material (dry density). SoilFix is applied with water, via tanker or bowser, either directly or through stabiliser.
•  More water is added to the pavement to achieve optimum moisture content (OMC) for efficient compaction – moisture content approximately 1% above OMC.
•  Compact material to 98% or higher maximum optimum density (MOD).
•  Cut and skim pavement to profile
•  Undertake final compaction and then open to traffic.
•  Apply wearing course after 3-5 days.

Dustkote

is a water-based polymer solution specifically developed as a spray-on dust suppressant / palliative.

Features and Advantages

· Water based – will not contaminate bowsers and tanks.
· Environmentally friendly – will not leach into the environment once cured.
· Can be applied onto all soil types including sandy soils and clays.
· No specialized heavy equipment required – water cart or spraygun is all that's needed.
· Strong and flexible
· UV resistant

Potfix QD3

Potfix QD3 is a water-soluble polymer based pothole and crack repair mixture for use on bituminous and asphalt road surfaces.

BTA

Romix BTA (Black Top polymer Asphalt) was designed as a wearing
coarse seal to further improve the strength and durability of the
stabilized layer, in a cost EFFECTIVE MANNER.

BTA is a water based application and is applied cold. BTA is applied
using normal paver or it can be applied by hand where job creation is
important.

SSA

SSA is a clear seal used in environmental and aesthetically important areas such as game parks or secondary roads.SSA is applied by water bowser, in 5 separate runs about 1.5 hrs apart. I t is a very durable clear seal which can be used in National parks, haul roads for industry where the roads need to be rehabilitated in future, and for remote areas where there is a lack of infrastructure and aggregate.

The seal will carry common road traffic quite comfortably and maintenance is inexpensive.