CAN CHEMICAL STABILIZATION IMPROVE GROUND SUPPORT

ROCK SLABS OF TUFF AND SANDSTONE WERE IMPREGNATED WITH A VARIETY OF BASIC MONOMER SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF POLYMER IMPREGNATION ON THE PROPERTIES OF THE ROCK. THREE SAMPLE CORES WERE TAKEN FROM THE IMPREGNATED SLABS AND EXHIBITED AVERAGE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTHS OF 11,000 PSI TO NEAR 16,000 PSI AS COMPARED WITH 3,300 PSI FOR THE AVERAGE STRENGTH OF 20 CORES FROM NON-IMPREGNATED SLABS. INCREASES IN YOUNG'S MODULUS BY FACTORS OF 2 TO 3 WERE ALSO OBSERVED. BEST RESULTS WERE OBTAINED WITH A MIXTURE OF 70 PERCENT MONOCHLOROSTYRENE AND 30 PERCENT TRIMETHYLOLPROPANE TRIMETHACRYLATE. /TRRL/