Model Test Study on the Enhancement of Ecological Self-Repairing Ability of Surface Slope Soil by New Polymer Composites

Abstract

Plant-based ecological protection is one of the effective methods to improve the stability of slope soils. However, plants need a stable growth environment and water supply. Although it has been demonstrated that polymer materials can effectively enhance the stability and water retention of soils, their improvement mechanism and long-term effects are yet to be clear. In this paper, we use a new polymer composite material (ADNB), an optimized compound of nano-aqueous binder (NAB) and super absorption resin (SAR), to conduct outdoor model tests to study the effects of different ADNB ratios on soil compactness, biochemical properties, and plant growth at longer time scales, and to explore its action law and mechanism of enhancing the ecological self-repairing ability of surface slope soil. The results show that ADNB can effectively improve the soil structure, increase the compactness of the soil, increase the organic matter content, microbial population and available nutrient content in the soil, thus promoting plant growth. The adsorption and agglomeration effect of the NAB in ADNB on soil particles and its degradation in natural environment can be observed by SEM. In summary, ADNB can not only effectively enhance the ecological self-repairing ability of surface slope soil, but also has good environmental friendliness and can be completely degraded under natural conditions without additional adverse effects on soil and environment.

Ecological membrane for slope engineering based on red bed soil

“…The degradation cycle of the composite polymer adhesive material is 2 years, and the degradation products are CO 2 and H 2 O, which do not generate any substances that are toxic and/or harmful to the environment. Thus, the adhesive material is an ecological material [ 21 , 22 ].…”

Experimental Study on Ecological Performance Improvement of Sprayed Planting Concrete Based on the Addition of Polymer Composite Material

“…Therefore, polymer composite material can be used to reduce the cement content in SPC, thereby alleviating these problems and improving SPC's pore structure and porosity, preventing it from excessive hardening, improving the plant growth environment, and enhancing its ecological performance. The molecular chain of the polymer adhesive material contains a large number of hydrophilic groups (-OOCCH3), which can bind with the cations in the soil and establish physical and chemical bonds between the soil particles to connect the soil particles and make them form soil aggregates [34] (as shown in Figure 10b), which can improve the stability and erosion resistance performance of the soil [35].…”

“…It can be seen from the results of the erosion resistance test that the erosion resistance of the soil samples was significantly enhanced under the improvement of the polymer adhesive material [31,35], and the addition of polymer adhesive materials did not produce any substances harmful to the soil environment. Hence, in terms of ecological slope protection, polymer adhesive material could well replace the role of cement in SPC, which can reduce the cement content of SPC and improve its ecological performance while maintaining its excellent erosion resistance performance.…”

“…In summary, SPC improved by the addition of polymer composite material can satisfy the requirements of erosion resistance and water and soil loss, and this can improve its ecological performance to a higher level so that the SPC can become a good ecological restoration material for steep rocky slopes. The molecular chain of the polymer adhesive material contains a large number of hydrophilic groups (-OOCCH 3 ), which can bind with the cations in the soil and establish physical and chemical bonds between the soil particles to connect the soil particles and make them form soil aggregates [34] (as shown in Figure 10b), which can improve the stability and erosion resistance performance of the soil [35].…”