Asphalt Emulsion Composite Particles UV Degradation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Asphalt pavements suffer from advanced degradation due to ultraviolet rays, leading to cracking and increased maintenance costs, especially in regions with high-intensity sunlight, and existing technologies lack sufficient weather resistance for normal-temperature paving.

Innovation Solution

A method involving melt-mixing asphalt with polyester and adding an aqueous medium and surfactant to create an asphalt emulsion with composite particles, enhancing weather resistance and allowing for normal-temperature paving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If asphalt is used for pavement, then easy construction and short paving time are achieved, but weather resistance and durability deteriorate due to ultraviolet ray degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaving speedVSAvoidweather resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite particles consisting of asphalt and polyester resin as the core material. This composite structure combines the ease of construction and quick paving properties of asphalt with the weather resistance and durability of polyester resin, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of asphalt from pure bitumen to an emulsion form dispersed in water. This parameter change allows the asphalt to be applied at lower temperatures while maintaining its binding properties, and the emulsion form enhances weather resistance by reducing ultraviolet degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If asphalt emulsion is used to reduce viscosity for normal temperature paving, then workability is improved, but weather resistance deteriorates due to high water content

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveworkabilityVSAvoidweather resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention incorporates polyester resin into the asphalt emulsion to form composite particles. This composite structure maintains the water-based emulsion form for easy application and normal temperature paving, while the polyester resin component provides enhanced weather resistance and reduces ultraviolet degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates local quality enhancement by forming composite particles where polyester resin is distributed within the asphalt matrix. This localized reinforcement of weather resistance properties occurs at the particle level while maintaining the overall emulsion structure for good workability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method produces an asphalt emulsion with improved weather resistance, reducing degradation by ultraviolet rays and enabling efficient, cost-effective maintenance with reduced disruption to traffic.

Implementation Method 1

adding an aqueous medium and a surfactant to the asphalt mixture obtained in the step 1, followed by mixing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

an asphalt emulsion in which an asphalt is dispersed in water to reduce the apparent viscosity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Data Source

PatentUS20240117189A1Method for producing asphalt emulsion
Publication Date: 2024.04.11 KAO CORP

AI summary

The present invention relates to [1] a method for producing an asphalt emulsion, the method including a step 1: a step of melt-mixing an asphalt and a polyester to obtain an asphalt mixture, and a step 2: a step of adding an aqueous medium and a surfactant to the asphalt mixture obtained in the step 1, followed by mixing, [2] an asphalt emulsion containing composite particles, the composite particles containing an asphalt and a polyester and having a volume median particle diameter (D50) of 1 μm or more and 40 μm or less, [3] an asphalt mix for pavement, containing the asphalt emulsion of the above [2] and an aggregate, and [4] a method for paving a road, the method including a step of laying the asphalt mix for pavement of the above [3] onto a road at 150° C. or lower.