Effects of Liquid Polymers on the Strength and Freezing-Thawing Properties of Bentonite and Kaolin Clays: A Comparative Study for Cold Climates

Clay soils can exhibit swelling and settlement behaviour when interacted with water. The clays located in road infrastructure can damage the road pavement and cause cracks because of swelling and/or settlement of clays. The freezing-thawing processes of clay soils can increase the damages of pavement. Additionally, the strength losses can occur. Weak soils can be improved using various soil improvement techniques with or without additives. In this study, liquid polymers (polyurethane, epoxy resin, and styrene acrylic) were combined with clays in various amounts (5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 15 wt.%, and 20 wt.%) to improve the strength and investigate the freezing-thawing behaviour of high-plasticity bentonite and low-plasticity kaolin clay. Unconfined compression tests and freezing-thawing cycles were performed on the samples with additives that were cured for 1 and 7 days. As a result, it was observed that polyurethane, epoxy resin, and styrene acrylic additives had positive effects on both the unconfined compressive and the post freezing-thawing unconfined compressive strengths of low and high plasticity clays in cold climates.