Silicate stabilization of soft granular materials for sandwich plate cores

This thesis summarises the research carried out at the Department of Engineering Science, University of Durham, on the mechanical properties and behaviour of silicate-stabilized materials used under laboratory conditions. It deals with methods of assessing the suitability of stabilized materials for structural and non-structural sandwich plate cores and describes the types of materials that can be stabilized with Sodium Silicate ( Soluble Silicate) and how their chemical and physical properties affect their suitability for stabilization. The influence of other factors such as temperature, moulding pressure, and dwelling time of a compressed specimen for a material stabilized by silicate are also discussed. Little attempt has been made to improve the quality or cost effectiveness of products, processes, systems and services used in construction. Relationships between the fabrication process variables and the final strength properties of the materials are established.