POLYCOM - FAQ'S
WHAT TYPE OF MATERIALS DOES POLYCOM WORK WITH?
The PolyCom advantage is that it can be applied to wide variety of material types, including silt, clay, gravels and crushed rock at the one simple application rate so no complicated mix design is required.
WILL PAVEMENTS TREATED WITH POLYCOM REMAIN FLEXIBLE?
Yes. PolyCom-stabilised pavements deliver comparable results to traditional stabilising methods with regard to strength but also remain flexible and resist shrinkage cracking and becoming brittle.
WILL POLYCOM HELP TO ACHIEVE COMPACTION IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND EARTHWORKS?
Yes. PolyCom will enable higher more uniform densities with less compactive effort, whilst reducing the optimum moisture content (OMC) of the material.
CAN POLYCOM BE USED FOR SUBGRADE IMPROVEMENT AND CAPPING?
Yes. PolyCom introduces water resistance and increased strength to subgrades, delivering a more resilient and sustainable platform for your project. This produces costs savings through more economic pavement designs and drainage options. Sub-grade capping with PolyCom can substantially reduce re-work from weather or traffic damage in cut to fill operations, again reducing project costs.
HOW DOES POLYCOM WORK?
After spreading and addition of water as required PolyCom works by binding the particles when compacted, thereby increasing water resistance and improving and preserving the dry strength of the construction material. PolyCom has been designed so that it is transported and distributed uniformly throughout the material by water. Cross-blending or mixing the PolyCom treated material completes the distribution process. PolyCom also acts as a lubricant within the material aiding workability resulting in a denser, stronger pavement.
IS POLYCOM SAFE FROM AN OHS PERSPECTIVE?
Yes. No special precautions or PPE are usually required (refer to SDS) and no heavy lifting is required.
WILL POLYCOM HARM MY MACHINERY OR PAINTWORK?
No. PolyCom will not react with metal or paintwork and therefore will not harm construction machinery.
I WANT TO BUY POLYCOM BUT HOW DO I KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT AND HOW TO USE IT?
Contact us and we’ll loan you a PolyCom spreader (also available for sale) or spread the PolyCom for new customers and trained PolyCom staff will provide on-site training and guidance to all new customers for as long as is required so that you obtain the best results from your purchase. Using PolyCom does not require additional personnel, onerous new skills or high-tech expensive equipment and will become a normal part of operations.
WILL ADDING POLYCOM DELAY MY PROJECT?
No. The addition of PolyCom is not a factor in project duration, requiring only a few minutes to spread. After spreading, the road can be constructed as normal.
CAN I USE A STABILISING MACHINE TO BLEND THE POLYCOM-TREATED MATERIAL?
Yes. A stabilising machine can increase efficiencies and be cost-effective where long lengths and deep stabilising (in excess of 200mm) is required.
DOES POLYCOM HAVE A FINITE CURING TIME AND CAN IT BE RE-WORKED?
PolyCom does not have a set curing time. Strengthening of the pavement begins with compaction and as it dries following the addition of PolyCom. As such the pavement can be re-worked at any time should weather or other factors intervene. You will not “lose” the pavement nor the PolyCom. With PolyCom-treated roads, a maintenance grade is usually required after 12-18 months. This is effectively carried out by adding around 10% of the original PolyCom amount.
CAN I MIX POLYCOM OFF-SITE AND TRANSPORT TO THE JOB?
Yes. Materials can be pre-mixed with PolyCom off-site and stockpiled until ready for transportation to site. Applications for this treatment include quarry materials (ie similar concept to cement-treated crushed rock), subdivision construction where material from elsewhere is required for level adjustment or additional strength, etc. Because PolyCom does not have any set curing time, it will not “go off” and materials can be stockpiled indefinitely and re-mixed as required. Leaching of PolyCom from the stockpile material will not occur.
WHO IS USING POLYCOM STABILISING AID?
Rural local government to create a more sustainable method of unsealed road maintenance, particularly through reduced gravel imports and reduced grading interventions.
Rural and urban local government for patch stabilisation of failed pavement areas on environmental grounds in lieu of other materials. Land developers for subgrade improvement and all-weather access roads to save excavation and crushed rock costs.
Mining and energy companies to upgrade long-haul roads and reduce fleet running costs and road maintenance costs. Transport operators and industrial operations requiring a low-maintenance, all-weather access road and yard with the added benefit of reducing dust.
CAN A 2KG BOTTLE OF POLYCOM REPLACE 2-4 TONS OF CEMENT OR LIME AS A BINDING AGENT?
2kg of PolyCom is equivalent to 2 tone of lime or cement at 2% ratio. Benefits of PolyCom are low cost of transport to site and weighs approximately 1000 times less. PolyCom resists cracking and is much more pleasant to use with none of the associated risks to worker’s health.
CAN WE APPLY THIS PROCESS TO FINISHED ROADS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE, IF SO HOW DOES THIS WORK? DEMONSTRABLE?
Yes. The process is to incorporate PolyCom stabilisation with the next planned intervention. It is then applied as part of the standard pavement conditioning and compaction process. It can be included in Full Depth Pavement Reclamation – Stabilisation of existing asphalt pavement with sub-base and PolyCom for creating a stabilized base for new asphalt surface. PolyCom is used Australia wide for rejuvenating tired worn out asphalt pavements as well as adding longer life to new constructed unsealed roads.
CAN WE USE THIS PROCESS FOR EMBANKMENT OF RURAL WATER TANKS (PONDS) AND IRRIGATION CANALS FOR BANK STABILITY AND ROBUSTNESS? EROSION IN EMBANKMENTS.
Yes. Some testing to determine the material treatment thickness needed along with development of appropriate construction methodology. But in short dams can be easily constructed for a fraction of the cost of importing specials clays and or specifying liners.
The Adelaide University summary Investigation identified permeability in clay reduced by 85% so the opportunity for leachate containment in tailing dams or landfills are significant. Landfills typically are capped by 1m of clay in Australia. This study identified that this could be reduced to 150mm equivalent – even if it is reduced to half the potential savings in reduced earthworks and increased capacity can be significant.