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Physical Properties of Sodium‐Treated Soil as Affected by Two Polymers
Author(s) -
Aly Saleh M.,
Letey J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1990.03615995005400020035x
Subject(s) - flocculation , polymer , polyacrylamide , aggregate (composite) , materials science , soil water , soil science , geotechnical engineering , environmental science , environmental engineering , geology , composite material , polymer chemistry
Increasing values of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) lead to decreasing aggregate stability, increasing dry cohesive strength, and decreasing flocculation of soil. Soils with high SAR values occur in many semiarid and arid regions of the world. This research investigated the effectiveness of an anionic polyacrylamide (40J) and a cationic guar (T‐4141) polymer in increasing aggregate stability and flocculation and decreasing the aggregate rupture stress of soils treated to have SAR values of 1, 5, and 15. The aggregate stability of soil at all three SAR values increased with increasing concentrations of 40J but was not greatly affected by T‐4141. Both polymers had similar effects on the rupture stress of aggregates where the rupture stress (with one exception) decreased with increasing polymer concentration. Both polymers increased flocculation, compared with the control, for the soil at SAR equal to 1 and 5, whereas only T‐4141 produced measurable increase in flocculation of the soil with SAR equal to 15. The polymer 40J was more effective than T‐4141 in promoting flocculation at SAR equal to 1 and 5 at lower polymer concentrations but less effective at higher concentrations. The effects of polymers on one soil property such as flocculation cannot be extrapolated to the effects on another soil property such as aggregate stability or rupture stress.