Lime improves the geotechnical properties of land with a high dry, fine soil component. We recommend a proportion greater than 12 % in sizes < 0.080 mm and a plasticity index of >10 when using lime. Both clayey soils and detrital material with clay matrices are suitable for lime treatment.

The use of lime avoids having to remove and transport soil to the dump and using borrow pit material: it offers economic savings and also eliminates the environmental aggression involved in using borrow pits

Soil stabilised with lime reduces the plasticity index and virtually eliminates swelling within a few minutes of application. In addition, in the longer term it increases load-carrying capacity, raising CBR values and improving land compaction.

Quicklime absorbs water with a significant heat output (exothermic hydration reaction). This effect helps to dry the land through hydration and evaporation, lowering the humidity percentage by between 2% and 5% for each point of added quicklime.

Treating soil with lime facilitates the construction of embankments, esplanade foundations, foundations and sub-foundations for linear works, transition wedges, building platforms and slope stabilisation.

The construction of numerous highways, airports, railway lines and industrial and building platforms, as well as farm roads and forest tracks, are benefiting from the use of this soil-improvement technique.