Comparative Study of the Consolidation Process and Properties of Clay Based Geomaterials and “Geomimetic” Lateritic Clay Based Materials

The present work focuses on the elaboration of low energy consuming materials and the correlation between their final properties and the fabrication route. For this purpose, geomaterials have been elaborate using a common raw clay material. Also an original route has been developed to elaborate “geomimetic” materials. The raw material consists of lateritic clay, whereas the main reactives are namely: nitric acid, fulvic acid, and calcium hydroxide in an aqueous medium. In both materials, the strengthening process and the final characteristics of the as obtained products have been investigated. Namely: the characteristic compressive strength and the resistance to water seeping and wearing. The geomaterials exhibit a good resistance towards water seeping and wearing, but the products obtained using Portland cement present a greater characteristic compressive strength than with lime. “Geomimetic” materials are also water resistant. In fact, the products elaborated using nitric acid exhibit the best characteristic compressive strength, namely 20 MPa. While with fulvic acid, an environmental friendly organic acid, a characteristic compressive strength of 12 MPa is obtained. Thus the latter appears competitive towards usual stabilized earth and concrete building materials.