A study of the reaction of hydrated lime with pure clay (kaolin) in clay stabilization

The work presented is the investigation of the reaction of pure Kaolinite clay with hydrated lime in clay stabilization. Pure Kaolin clay, ranging from one micron to five microns in size, was mixed with calcium hydroxide in the form of a paste. These mixtures were permitted to react for varying periods of time. An attempt was made to separate the lime from clay lime mixture by density separation using a mixed solution of carbon tetrachloride and tetrabromoethane. Since the above method failed because of the formation of a yellow gelatinous suspension, the lime was removed by washing the clay lime mixture in a concentrated solution of ammonium chloride and finally in water. Electron photographs of clay before and after the treatment were compared for changes in edge sharpness or corner erosion. No notable changes ware observed by comparison of the photographs. The clay lime mixtures were also tested in the Geiger counter X-ray spectrometer. These tests gave no indication of formation of new products of reaction between the clay and lime additives. It is concluded that the reaction is a surface phenomenon only --Abstract, page 2