LAVA pumice stone is chemically inert, non-corrosive and resistant to deformation. The excellent qualities of pumice stone make it an ideal lightweight filling material in numerous geotechnical applications both in the US and Europe.
It is used as:
- soil stabiliser;
- filling material (substrate in loose soil);
- drainage material
bulk material in road, port, airport, stadium construction works. LAVA pumice stone proves to be a particularly attractive material providing solutions to difficult earthfills, backfills and embankments. Its role is particularly important when it comes to soft or loose soils that require lower loads and subsidence control.
LAVA pumice stone is ideal for all these applications as it has:
- Low density. Its bulk density is below 750 Kg/m3 (on dry ground), which is beneficial because:
- the development of loads and lateral stresses is mitigated;
- transportation costs are lower and handling easier;
- protection against extreme temperature variations is ensured, thanks to its very good thermal-insulating properties;
- it has a wide angle of internal friction. Pumice stone grains have an angular shape allowing stronger cohesion among them, which in turn enhances considerably the structure’s stability.
- A satisfactory deformation modulus and very good compaction behaviour.
- Full grain size distribution, which, coupled with the wide angle of internal friction, enhances slope retention minimizing the need for geotextiles.
