Sodium Silicate Boric Acid Injection Material for Silt Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection materials, such as Portland cements, struggle to penetrate fine and medium sand due to large particle sizes and have issues with adjustable setting times, while chemical injection materials face limitations in strength, cost, and environmental impact, and require expensive reactants for gelling, which is further hindered by long gelling times and groundwater dilution.
Innovation Solution
A method using a mixture of sodium silicate with a SiO2/Na2O ratio of 3-4 and ultra-low sulfate boric acid, dissolved in water at 2.5-5% by weight, is developed to create an environmentally friendly injection material that adjusts gelling time and enhances strength and low permeability, facilitating penetration and gelation in soils up to silt size, even in flowing groundwater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If Portland cement is used as injection material, then high strength is achieved, but particle size is too large to penetrate fine and medium sand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the injection material by using sodium silicate solution with specific SiO2/Na2O ratios (2.2-3.3) and controlling the concentration of ultra low sulfate boric acid (2.0-5.0% by weight) to achieve both small effective particle size for penetration and high strength after gelation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite injection material system combining sodium silicate solution and ultra low sulfate boric acid, where the two components react to form a gel structure that provides both penetration capability and high strength, resolving the contradiction between particle size and strength
2Length of moving object
If chemical injection material is used to penetrate smaller particle sizes, then penetration capability is improved, but strength is low and costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the chemical parameters including SiO2/Na2O ratio (2.2-3.3), boric acid concentration (2.0-5.0% by weight), and pH control to achieve both good penetration into fine particles and high strength after gelation, avoiding the weakness of conventional chemical materials
3Reliability
If weak acid type materials are used as reactants for gelling, then gelling is achieved, but costs are high and supply is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and hard-to-supply weak acid reactants with ultra low sulfate boric acid, which is cheaper and more readily available, while maintaining effective gelling capability through the chemical reaction with sodium silicate
4Quantity of substance
If long gelling time is used, then injection material reaches soil pores, but solution is diluted by groundwater and gelling cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the gelling time by adjusting the concentration of ultra low sulfate boric acid (2.0-5.0% by weight) and pH conditions, achieving optimal balance between sufficient travel time to reach soil pores and timely gelation before dilution by groundwater
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves high strength and low permeability in soils, with adjustable gelling times and improved penetration capabilities, ensuring effective soil reinforcement and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
the solution material reaches the soils pores in a timely manner and to gelate after reaching them
Implementation Method 2
silicate-based materials are neutralized and gelled using a reactant
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for preparing a mixture and the injection material to be used as soil injection material to close the pores after a certain gelling period by applying it to the pores in the silt size, including the steps of: (a) preparation of a mixture of sodium silicate with a SiO2/Na2O ratio of 3-4 and water so that their ratio by volume varies between 3/7 and 1/1; (b) obtaining a mixture by dissolving ultra-low sulfated boric acid in water, containing between 2.5-5% by weight of ultra-low sulfated boric acid; and (c) mixing the obtained ultra low sulfate boric acid-water mixture with sodium silicate in the step a.