Process for the stabilization of dusting surfaces

1. A process for the consolidation of a soil-containing surface, comprising tilling or scarifying said surface and admixing the soil with at least one water-redispersible polymer powder, an aqueous dispersion thereof, or reemulsifyable-modified redispersible polymer powder or aqueous dispersion thereof.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the step of admixing comprises spraying onto the surface prior to, during, or following tilling or scarifying.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises polymerised moieties of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of vinyl esters, (meth)acrylates, vinyl aromatics, olefins, 1,3-dienes, and vinyl halides and optionally, further monomers copolymerizable therewith.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a homopolymer or copolymer of vinyl ester monomer(s), polyvinyl acetate, copolymer(s) of vinyl acetate and ethylene, copolymer(s) comprising vinyl acetate, ethylene and a vinyl ester of α-branched monocarboxylic acid(s) having 9 to 11 C atoms, said polymer optionally containing one or more auxiliary monomers.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the surface is tilled to a depth of 1 to 500 mm to provide loose material, and the loose material is admixed with the polymer powder or polymer dispersion.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein 0.01 to 5% by weight polymer solids of polymer powder or polymer dispersion, based on the weight of the soil to be stabilized, is admixed.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the water-redispersible polymer powders are combined with dispersants.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is combined with cement and/or gypsum.

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the tilled or scarified surface is levelled and compacted, or graded, following admixture with the redispersible polymer.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the consolidation is re-activated by exposure to moisture.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the surface is one or more selected from the group consisting of unpaved dirt roads, forestry roads, agricultural access roads, road shoulders, road bed sub-bases, construction sites, land developments, slopes, dumps, seasonal roads, private roads and driveways, parking lots, airstrips, athletic fields, landing pads, public parks, and athletic fields.

12. A process for reducing dusting of a soil-containing dusting surface, comprising spraying onto said surface an aqueous dispersion of a redispersible polymer powder or a reemulsifyable modified aqueous redispersible polymer dispersion, admixing said aqueous dispersion with the soil to form a moist soil and redispersible polymer powder mixture, and compacting the mixture.

13. The process of claim 12 , wherein said redispersible polymer powder is a polyvinyl acetate homopolymer or copolymer.

14. The process of claim 12 , wherein at least one redispersible polymer powder is polyvinyl acetate or a copolymer of vinyl acetate and ethylene.

15. A process for the stabilization of a dusting surface, consisting essentially of tilling or scarifying said surface and admixing with water-redispersible polymer powder(s), which are optionally reemulsifiable modified, or reemulsifiable modified aqueous redispersible polymer dispersion(s), and providing sufficient water to cause the redispersible polymer to adhere to soil particles as a binder.

16. The process of claim 1 , wherein said consolidation is achieved by admixing with a soil composition a consolidating composition consisting of a redispersible polymer powder, in the form of powder or an aqueous dispersion thereof, optionally a dispersant, and optionally cement.

17. The process of claim 1 , wherein said reemulsifyable-modified aqueous polymer dispersion is a polymer dispersion containing an ethoxylated fatty alcohol emulsifier.

18. The process of claim 1 , wherein consolidation is accomplished by the addition of a vinyl ester homopolymer or copolymer polymerized by emulsion polymerization in the presence of a polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, or polyvinylacetal protective colloid or mixture thereof.

19. A stabilized dusting surface, prepared by the process of claim 1 .

20. A stabilized dusting surface, consisting essentially of a surface layer prepared by the process of claim 1 .

21. A process for stabilization of a dusting surface, comprising tilling or scarifying said surface, and stabilizing said surface by applying a stabilizing composition consisting essentially of a redispersible polymer powder or aqueous dispersion thereof.

22. A process for stabilizing soil, comprising tilling or scarifying soil to a depth of 50 mm or more, incorporating into the soil a soil stabilizing component comprising from 0.01% to 5% by weight of at least one redispersible polymer powder, supplying sufficient water to moisten the soil, and compacting the soil to provide a stabilized soil upon removal of moisture.

23. The process of claim 22 , wherein from 0.2 to 2 weight percent of redispersible polymer powder is employed.

24. The process of claim 22 wherein said redispersible polymer powder is supplied in dry form.

25. The process of claim 22 , wherein the redispersible polymer powder is added in the form of an aqueous dispersion, the water in the aqueous dispersion supplying at least a portion of the water required to moisten the soil.

26. The process of claim 24 , wherein the redispersible polymer powder is supplied in dry form together with a hydraulically settable cement.

27. The process of claim 22 , wherein at least one redispersible polymer powder is a copolymer prepared by aqueous polymerization of ethylene and vinyl acetate followed by spray drying in the presence of a protective colloid spraying assistant.

28. The process of claim 22 , wherein the soil stabilizing component consists essentially of one or more redispersible polymer powders or an aqueous dispersion thereof, and optionally a hydraulically settable cement.