Clear Binder Composition for Road Surfacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clear surfacing binders require high temperatures for application, leading to smoke emissions and filamentous binders at lower temperatures, which compromises workability and durability.
Innovation Solution
A clear binder composition using ethylene and alkyl acrylate copolymers with a melt flow index greater than 2.5 g/10 min and a melting temperature greater than 85°C, along with a plasticiser and structurant, to achieve improved physico-mechanical properties and low-temperature workability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional clear binders are heated to high temperatures (150-200°C) for mixing and application, then good fluidity and workability are achieved, but significant smoke emissions are generated and filamentous nature occurs at lower temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the binder by incorporating specific polymers (SBS or SEBS elastomers at 5-20% by weight and ethylene/alkyl acrylate copolymers at 10-40% by weight) with controlled melt flow indices (2.0-5.0 g/10min). This compositional parameter change enables the binder to maintain adequate fluidity at lower temperatures (100-150°C) without generating excessive smoke, thus resolving the contradiction between workability and smoke emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite binder system combining multiple components: petroleum oils, hydrocarbon resins, SBS/SEBS elastomers, and ethylene/alkyl acrylate copolymers. This composite material approach allows the binder to exhibit both low-temperature fluidity (from the copolymer with high melt flow index) and resistance to filamentous formation (from the elastomer network), while enabling application at reduced temperatures that minimize smoke emissions.
2Ease of operation
If the content of elastomer in the binder is reduced to decrease filamentous nature, then workability at lower temperatures improves, but resistance to permanent deformation strongly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite material system where SBS/SEBS elastomers (5-20% by weight) provide the necessary resistance to permanent deformation through their viscoelastic properties, while ethylene/alkyl acrylate copolymers (10-40% by weight) with high melt flow indices (2.0-5.0 g/10min) ensure adequate fluidity at lower temperatures. The synergistic interaction between these two polymer components resolves the contradiction between reducing filamentous nature and maintaining deformation resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the weight percentage parameters of different binder components, specifically maintaining elastomer content at 5-20% by weight to prevent excessive filamentous formation while ensuring sufficient resistance to permanent deformation. Simultaneously, the copolymer content is set at 10-40% by weight with controlled melt flow index (2.0-5.0 g/10min) to achieve the desired balance between workability and structural integrity.
3Temperature
If ethylene and alkyl acrylate copolymers with low melt flow index are used, then viscosity at low temperature is reduced, but filamentous nature persists and workability remains compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifically selects ethylene/alkyl acrylate copolymers with melt flow index within the range of 2.0-5.0 g/10min. This parameter optimization is critical: a melt flow index that is too low would result in excessive viscosity at application temperature and filamentous formation, while a melt flow index that is too high would compromise the binder's ability to maintain structure. The specified range achieves the optimal balance for low-temperature workability without filamentous issues.
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 binder composition enables clear surfacing application at lower temperatures without filamentous issues, ensuring good resistance to permanent deformation and improved workability.
Implementation Method 1
a melting temperature greater than 85° C.
Implementation Method 2
a melt flow index greater than 2.5 g/10 min
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of transport infrastructures and urban planning and development infrastructures, in particular clear or coloured surfacing containing clear binders. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clear binder composition comprising one or more ethylene and alkyl acrylate copolymers having a melt flow rate greater than 2.5 g/10 min and a melting temperature greater than 85° C.