5. Soft limestone aggregates – Enhanced performance

This application was originally developed on the basis of tests on limestone materials from the Paris region with average to low aggregate performances (Los Angeles between 28 and 48, Micro-Deval Humide between 25 and 72).

Laboratory studies have shown that lime treatment leads to carbonation reactions that progressively improve the mechanical properties of soft limestone materials. After one year, limestones treated with 1% quicklime all showed moduli of elasticity in excess of 5,000 MPa and significant tensile strengths (0.13 to 0.19 MPa).