Experimental Study on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Modified Clay Using Xanthan Gum and Guar Gum Composite Materials

Abstract

Biopolymer stabilization of soils has emerged as a viable solution for enhancing the engineering properties of soils in recent years. Xanthan gum and guar gum are two commonly used biopolymers. When combined, these materials have the ability to create stronger gels or gel strengths comparable to those achieved by using xanthan or guar gum individually, but at lower total concentrations. However, the extent of this synergistic viscosity-enhancing effect on soil improvement remains unclear. This study analyzes the effects of xanthan gum and guar gum on the physical and mechanical properties of clay under both individual and combined conditions using Atterberg limits tests, compaction tests, and triaxial consolidation undrained tests. At a 2% biopolymer content, the liquid limit of clay treated with a combination of XG and GG compounds increases by up to 8.0%, while the plastic limit increases by up to 3.9% compared to clay treated with a single colloid. With an increase in the mixing ratio, the optimal water content initially rises and then declines, peaking at 27.3%. The maximum dry density follows a pattern of initially decreasing and then increasing, with the lowest value recorded at 1.616 g·cm−3. Moreover, the shear strength of specimens treated with the XG and GG combination generally surpasses that of specimens treated with XG or GG alone. Furthermore, the combined treatment results in increased plasticity, highlighting its potential to enhance safety and stability in engineering applications.