Road Building
For road building, rubicon supplies clients with Earthzyme® - a long Lasting, environmentally friendly soil stabilisation product.
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10+ years with a single application and no additional grading
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80-90% cost saving vs tarmac/bitumen
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Stronger than concrete & self-healing
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Can withstand weights of up to 700+ tonnes
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Airfreight is cost effective
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All weather: won't wash away in heavy rains
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Environmentally friendly, non-toxic & non-corrosive
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Uses in situ clay-based material, avoiding high costs of gravel & aggregate
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Benefits from increased compaction from traffic
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What is EarthZyme?
EarthZyme is a non-toxic soil stabilizer, created by Cypher Environmental, designed to work on clay based soils. EarthZyme works specifically to stabilize high clay content soils, which would normally be marginal in terms of their engineering properties. The product allows for the use of these types of in-situ materials providing substantial cost savings over traditional material costs for road building, such as aggregate. Additionally, long term maintenance reductions can be achieved, further reducing costs. The main goal of the product is to improve the engineering properties of the road / soil, such as increasing the density and CBR value (California Bearing Ratio), and in turn reducing the permeability and swell, producing a road that performs much better in wet weather and during spring break up. Although the main goal is stabilization, we also see reduced dust on roads treated with EarthZyme due to the increased bonding characteristics and density of the clay platelets.
How soon after construction can the road be opened to traffic?
The road can be opened as soon as the final compaction is complete. The road will benefit from the compaction of the traffic, further increasing the strength of the road. Initial curing time is 7 days, but the curing continues for 28 days. However, the more traffic you have, the sooner after compaction, the better, as it only helps to sustain the high densities and compaction values achieved during the compaction process. In fact, once the compaction process has begun, and as long as it is safe to do so, traffic can use the road simultaneously as compaction takes place.
How much gain in CBR can be expected?
This will vary depending on the soil being treated and the densities achieved during construction. Increases of 50% – over 300% have been realized on various projects and during lab testing.
Can the surface be maintained, should it be damaged or worn?
Yes, maintenance can be accomplished when necessary. EarthZyme must be used to patch or resurface the treated road, maintenance guidelines are available from your Cypher representative. However it is typical to do very light trim grades from time to time, on an as needed basis.
Can EarthZyme be used with lime or cement?
Yes, EarthZyme can be used in conjunction with lime or cement. EarthZyme will allow the use of both to be reduced, and typical strength gains will still be achieved. As well, a large increase in CBR can be gained along with substantial savings in material costs (i.e. less cement or lime).
What is the largest benefit to using EarthZyme?
The most significant benefit is the reduction in costs compared to other construction methods. Using low quality in-situ soils and gravels to construct low cost and low maintenance roads and saving valuable resources in the construction of highways is the result. With today’s budgets, cost savings are vital. Of course, these refer specifically to the financial benefits. Ultimately in terms of engineering benefits, the greatest achievements will be a gain in CBR and density, as well as reductions in permeability, swell and rolling resistance.
What are the main elements of EarthZyme?
EarthZyme consists of enzymes, electrolytes and surfactants. These three main elements work together to allow the solution to penetrate clay based soils and effect the cation exchange within the clay platelets and cement the clay together within the silts, sands and gravel of a road construction.