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LIQUIDOW® Gravel Stabilization & FDR

LIQUIDOW gravel stabilization full depth reclamation - OxyChem Calcium Chloride

Better Roads, Top to Bottom: Gravel Stabilization Provides a Smoother Ride

Calcium chloride is the superior choice for better roads, and in liquid form, its properties make it a highly beneficial solution for both performance and value. When used as an agent for gravel stabilization in the full-depth reclamation (FDR) process, LIQUIDOW® provides distinct benefits, increasing the life of a paved road while reducing construction and maintenance costs, improving road quality, and beneficially impacting health and the environment.

Gravel Stabilization for a Smoother Ride

The gravel stabilization process rehabilitates and extends the life of unpaved roads by mixing existing aggregate with materials that enhance strength and resistance to deterioration caused by traffic and weather. 

When LIQUIDOW, available in concentrations from 28% to 42%, is applied for gravel stabilization:

  • Effective dust abatement is also realized, reducing the potential for vehicle accidents that could result in injuries or even loss of life.
  • Inhalation of airborne particulate is reduced – and quality of life is improved – for individuals in roadside residences, campgrounds and businesses.
  • Less road blading is required, so maintenance costs are lessened, and sediment load on nearby streams and lakes is decreased.
  • The need for aggregate replacement is reduced, conserving scarce and expensive aggregate resources and lowering maintenance costs.
  • The potential for frost damage is minimized. 

Numerous scientific studies link exposure to dust particles with increased respiratory symptoms, decreased lung function, development of chronic bronchitis and other health problems (www.epa.gov), so the dust abatement that is simultaneously achieved with stabilization is especially beneficial. Gravel stabilization using LIQUIDOW is also an important component in rehabilitating old roads with full-depth reclamation techniques.

Full-Depth Reclamation for a Cost-Effective Foundation

Traditional full-depth reclamation with calcium chloride consists of six primary steps:

  1. A reclaimer is used to pulverize the surface and road base to a specified depth.
  2. Calcium chloride such as LIQUIDOW® Calcium Chloride Solution is applied to the pulverized material using a truck with a spray bar, much like a dust control treatment.
  3. A second pass of the reclaimer thoroughly mixes the calcium chloride with the road materials.
  4. The road is graded and shaped.
  5. Asphalt is rolled and compacted with a vibratory roller.
  6. Calcium chloride is applied as a top dressing or fog seal.

The Improved Three-Step Method

FDR is a process in which the existing surface of deteriorated asphalt roads and the underlying base are pulverized and mixed together to form an upgraded, homogenous new base.

FDR offers impressive advantages over other reconstruction techniques:

  • Energy is preserved, because full-depth reclamation is a cold process that requires no heating fuel and involves minimal hauling and handling of materials.
  • Non-renewable resources are conserved since all existing materials are reused.
  • In-place construction and high production rates reduce traffic disruptions.
  • Fewer workers and less equipment are needed, resulting in lower costs.
  • The process is more cost effective over the long term, because the structural integrity of the gravel is increased, adding years to road life and improving ride quality. Some studies suggest that FDR provides cost savings as high as 50% compared with other reconstruction techniques, and still achieves the same, or better, finished road quality.

Reclaiming the Road to Success

OxyChem recommends a 38% solution of LIQUIDOW for gravel stabilization in the FDR process because it:

  • Binds the particles of the base materials together more effectively.
  • Attracts moisture, facilitating compaction and imparting strength.
  • Lowers the reclaimed layer’s freezing point, which helps reduce the freeze/thaw cycles responsible for frost heave. 

Calcium chloride is generally the least expensive stabilizer of choice. In cases where additional base strength is needed, it may be combined with small percentages of cement to achieve the desired result. Whether full-depth reclamation is used to overcome base failures, increase a road’s load-bearing capacity, create a more solid foundation for an overlay, or provide a more stable base for gravel roads, LIQUIDOW can pave the way to an enhanced process with improved results.

Hit the Road With LIQUIDOW

LIQUIDOW Calcium Chloride Solution streamlines and enhances the gravel stabilization and full-depth reclamation processes, reduces costs, and improves road quality. Contact a distributor today to discover the benefits of LIQUIDOW.