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Soil Hardening Agents02-01-01 | 16
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Turning soil, dirt and rock into a natural pathway or pavement is a lot easier than it seems. It can also be done in a way that is non-toxic and safe for the environment.

Two companies that offer products that bind, stabilize and solidify soil are PolyPavement of Los Angeles, California and Stabilizer Solutions Inc., located in Phoenix, Arizona.

The ability to control wind erosion and maintenance costs after it rains are just some of the benefits of stabilizing and solidifying soil.

Stabilizer Solutions creates a "natural" alternative to concrete and asphalt surfaces and provides moisture and dust control as well as erosion prevention.

PolyPavement is an environmentally safe alternative to asphalt and concrete. The liquid solidifier converts ordinary dirt into solid permanent pavement utilizing the in-place soil or decorative soils. The solidifier is liquid and the company says that their product is 10 times stronger than asphalt and is not damaged by rain.

PolyPavement can be built to specifications for heavy vehicles, foot traffic areas, parking lots and service roads. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tested Polypavement's natural soil pavement technology and recommends it for roads, helicopter landing pads and other traffic and non-traffic surfaces in desert, tropic and temperate climates. More than 300 methods and materials were tested by the Corps of Engineers and none performed as well as PolyPavement.

The product resists damage by rain, heat, temperature extremes and rubber tires, it also requires little or no maintenance. If damage occurs from spikes or point forces, it is repaired easily by filling or patching with a pourable mixture of PolyPavement and the natural soil fine particles.

Typical application methods include diluting PolyPavement into the water, compacting the soil, then mixing the diluted solution into the water and spraying onto the soil surface. Another method is to dilute it in water and spraying directly onto a dry soil surface. The third application method is similar to the previous method, but is for a non-traffic area and it requires that the solution is sprayed directly onto the soil surface.

The PolyPavement application method for low traffic areas is to dilute it in water and spray it directly onto a dry soil surface. PolyPavement can also be built to specifications for for heavy traffic areas, parking lots and service roads.

Unused portions of PolyPavement soil solidifier can be stored in drums and used whenever needed for small or large areas. PolyPavement is safe for sensitive aquatic life and it does not leach into the ground water.

Stabilizer Solutions Inc. has a patented, non-toxic organic binder that is colorless, odorless and is a concentrated powder that naturally binds Crushed Aggregate Screenings (CAS) creating a "natural" alternative to concrete and asphalt surfaces. CAS is any Decomposed Granite, Crushed Stone, Chat, Limestone, Quarry Fines or Stone dust that is 1/4" or 3/8" stone down to the fine particles.

The installation of Stabilized CAS surface course is a relatively straightforward grading, leveling, watering and compacting procedure which can be carried out successfully with a wide range of equipment.

Stabilizer has had much success on baseball and softball fields as is witnessed by Charlie Williamson, the Groundskeeper at L. Dale Mitchell Park at the University of Oklahoma.

Stabilizer is a concentrated powder that naturally binds Crushed Aggregate Screenings, and it is a non-toxic organic binder that is colorless and odorless. Every ingredient comes from renewable plants found in Arizona's deserts.

"As we have a major problem with wind erosion in Oklahoma, we mixed Stabilizer into the infield dirt and home plate areas," he said. "The results were very pleasing in that we had no dust blowing and the drying time of the field after a rain was minimal."

North Johnson, Vice President/General Manager of the Kinston Indians Baseball Club added, "The difference in the surface is unbelievable. It has not only cut down on day to day maintenance, but more importantly to us, we were able to save a couple of promotion nights that would have been rained out."

If the surface requires additional Stabilized CAS, the repair should be made by moistening and scarifying the affected areas. Apply Stabilized CAS and grade. Water thru full depth of repaired area and compact.

This product is organic and non-toxic. Every ingredient comes from renewable plants found in Arizona's deserts. It is odorless and won't stain the materials its mixed with as well as being completely safe for humans, animals and vegetation.

Dust and moisture is controlled onbaseball and softball fields as well as parking lots, golf course cart paths and highway medians, with the help of soil hardening agents.

Stabilizer Solutions Inc. provides moisture control, dust control and erosion prevention for: baseball and softball infields and warning tracks; running tracks and selected track and field approach areas; horse arenas, tracks and stable arenas; golf course cart paths, tee approaches, sand trap bases and sand dunes; highway medians and embankments; and cemeteries for gravesite and marker stabilization. LASN
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