Engineered Water Repellency for Applications in Environmental Geotechnology

Engineered water repellency offers a transformative approach to environmental geotechnology challenges. This paper reviews the use and potential for organosilanes to reduce leachability, control infiltration, increase strength, reduce erosion, reduce swell, and reduce effects of frost action. Organosilanes can be dissolved in water and mixed with soils and waste by-products using standard field compaction methodologies. Once cured, the treated material becomes hydrophobic. Treatment efficacy can be assessed in terms of contact angle and water entry head measurements. Evolving laboratory and field results will be summarized with a vision for future research and development.