BENTONITE FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING

Bentonite as well as bentonite-based suspensions are widely used in a broad range of construction works:

• Tunneling, including for the subway;
• Construction of facilities using the “Slurry wall” technique;
• Sealing cracks and filling voids, including during the construction of hydropower plants;
• Waterproofing for foundation construction;
• Construction (installation) of waterproofing screens.

Tunneling machine EPB type with hydraulic load are used in the construction of tunnels in difficult engineering and geological conditions (unstable water-saturated soils (quicksands), significant groundwater pressure, etc.).

During the tunneling operation with tunneling machine EPB type, bentonite suspension with strictly defined properties is injected into the borehole area under the pressure, it compacts the tunnel face, excluding subsidence and rock collapse. Additionally, bentonite suspension removes cuttings, lubricate and cool the sinking equipment.

During the construction of structures, with dense buildings, bentonite suspensions are used as part of the “slurry wall” technology.

The concept of “slurry wall” in the construction of underground structures is that in order to prevent the walls from collapsing the trench is filled with clay mud as the soil is removed from it. The clay mud with low viscosity and high mudding ability penetrates into the soil and fills the walls of the trench, forming a thin – 0.5-3 mm, dense and strong crust on their surface, preventing the wall of the trench from collapsing before the reinforcement cage is installed and the trench is filled by the concrete. After the concrete has gained strength, the finished structure can serve as: the supporting element of the foundation, the enclosing structure of the walls of the underground facility, as well as a cutoff that excludes the access of groundwater to the buried operated structure.

Due to its sealing, plasticizing and penetrating properties, bentonite is widely used in injection and grouting mortars, which are effective for filling cracks and voids. That is why bentonite is an important material for the construction of hydroelectric power stations, dams and weirs, canals, ponds, basements of residential and industrial buildings.

The bentonite produced by TAGBENT LLP is successfully used for the whole range of construction works.