Specialty Materials Testing
Liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index testing describe how the fine fraction of a soil changes consistency as its water content changes.
Service overview
Calicore determines liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index where the soil contains sufficient fines for meaningful testing. Non-plastic material is reported accordingly.
Atterberg limits are commonly paired with sieve analysis and moisture content to support classification, earthwork decisions, soil reports, and comparison against material specifications.
Step by step
The exact scope is matched to the project, but a typical assignment follows these steps.
We review the sample, source, project specification, preparation basis, and whether sieve or fines information is also required.
The portion used for liquid- and plastic-limit testing is prepared under the procedure requested for the project.
Liquid limit and plastic limit are determined where the material is testable, and plasticity index is calculated from those results.
The report provides the measured limits, plasticity index, preparation basis, or a non-plastic designation when appropriate.
Review criteria
The limits describe the consistency of the fine fraction as moisture changes; they do not directly measure strength, permeability, bearing capacity, or shrink-swell potential.
What you receive
Common project needs
Frequently asked
It means the tested fines could not be rolled and behaved without measurable plasticity under the method; it does not mean the soil has no fines.
Often yes. Gradation identifies the particle-size distribution, while limits characterize the behavior of the fine fraction.
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Send a short description of the work, any plans, specifications, or photographs you have, and tell us what you need the service to provide. Include a project location if it applies.
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