ABSTRACT
In recent years, mild direct current stimulation in the presence of wetting fluids (WF) has shown potential for cementing granular sands. However, durability of these electrodeposits, in electrically conditioned silica sands, under controlled humidity conditions require further investigations. In this context, experiments were performed in this study using three identical (50 g) samples of coarse-grained silica sand, which were treated with 16 mL of WF (2 M calcium hydroxide (CH) and sodium metasilicate (NS). After saturation an electric potential of 2.5 V/cm was applied for 6 h through carbon felt electrode. The electrically treated samples were then exposed to 80% relative humidity (RH) for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Thereafter, microstructural analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed, which indicated intact microstructure even after 72 h. In conclusion, electrodeposited silica sand showed humidity-induced degradation, however retained integrity, confirming silica sand stability in hydrophilic conditions after electrical conditions.
