Lafarge Africa Plc has stated that, its road cement brand, Roadcem, has been approved for use by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in the country as it provides better volume stability by controlling swell and shrinkage.
The product, which is environmentally friendly, increases the strength and bearing capacity of the roads, reduces the thickness of the pavement structure and modifies the chemical and mineral structure of soil materials.
In Nigeria, there is high variability in the quality of soil that is available across the country.
The use of traditional methods of excavating, placing and compacting soil makes it challenging to achieve uniform quality.
With Roadcem, Lafarge Africa has provided a soil stabilisation product that helps to improve the characteristics of soils before they are used for the base, sub-base or sub-grade construction.
Lafarge’s RoadCem is produced by inter-grinding cement clinker with a controlled amount of limestone and chemical additives.
Roadcem provides better volume stability by controlling swell and shrinkage, and providing better durability while allowing the stabilised layer to achieve long-term strength.
Engr. Osita Ezedozie, the director of Highways (Materials, Geotechnics and Quality Control), of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, said: “following the improved performance observed from the tests, pilot study and evaluation of Roadcem over Ordinary Portland Cement in soil (sharp sand) stabilization, approval has been granted for the introduction and use of Roadcem for stabilisation of soil (sharp sand) in highway pavement sub-base course construction.
“At 5.0 per cent Roadcem content, the stabilised sharp sand complies with all the specification requirements for a sub-base course and also achieves higher stability at a lower cost than stabilization with ordinary Portland cement.”