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Artificial gravel produced by sintering soil
Author(s) -
Hautala Earl,
Menefee Emory
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740320515
Subject(s) - sintering , hydraulic conductivity , drainage , geotechnical engineering , montmorillonite , clay soil , geology , environmental science , soil science , soil water , materials science , metallurgy , composite material , ecology , biology
A montmorillonite‐type clay soil was sintered at 800°C to form a permeable gravel substitute suitable for use as a drainage envelope material. Compression testing showed the sintered soil to be water‐stable with deformation characteristics that resemble sand more than the original soil. Hydraulic conductivity of the soil was increased more than ten‐fold by sintering. The economics of sintering may be favourable depending on the costs of mining and hauling gravel from local deposits.