Fischer-Tropsch Wax Synthetic Binder Pellets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Synthetic binder pellets used in pavement construction tend to agglomerate when stored at ambient temperature, leading to transportation and storage challenges, and existing solutions involving anti-sticking films are either ineffective or increase production costs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating Fischer-Tropsch wax with a melting point between 80 and 120 °C into the synthetic binder composition, which forms a crystalline network at temperatures below 110 °C, preventing agglomeration without the need for anti-sticking films.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If synthetic binder pellets are stored at ambient temperature, then transportation and storage costs are reduced, but the pellets tend to agglomerate and stick together
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the synthetic binder by incorporating specific polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene-butadiene-styrene) in controlled amounts (0.1-5% by weight). This compositional parameter change modifies the binder's physical properties to reduce stickiness and prevent agglomeration during ambient temperature storage, while maintaining the desired rheological and mechanical properties for pavement applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite synthetic binder material by combining traditional binder components (resins, oils) with specific polymers. This composite formulation leverages the properties of each component: resins provide adhesiveness, oils act as dispersants, and the added polymers provide elasticity and resistance while controlling stickiness. The synergistic interaction of these materials resolves the contradiction between ambient storage and pellet stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If anti-sticking films are applied to prevent pellet agglomeration, then pellet stability during storage is improved, but production costs increase and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for external anti-sticking films by incorporating the anti-sticking functionality directly into the binder composition itself. The polymer additives (polyethylene, polypropylene, SBS) inherently provide anti-sticking properties, allowing the pellets to be manufactured and stored without additional coating steps, thus simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining pellet stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer additives serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide elasticity and resistance properties to the binder, control stickiness to prevent agglomeration, and maintain consistency during ambient temperature storage. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate anti-sticking films, reducing manufacturing complexity and production costs while achieving the desired pellet stability.
3Shape
If high proportion of polymer is added to prevent pellet deformation, then pellet shape stability is improved, but binder properties are detrimentally altered and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the polymer content parameter to a precise range (0.1-5% by weight of the total binder composition). This controlled parameter change provides sufficient elasticity and shape stability to prevent pellet deformation during handling and storage, while maintaining the binder's essential rheological and mechanical properties for pavement applications. The specific polymer types and concentrations are carefully selected to balance shape stability with performance requirements.
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 use of Fischer-Tropsch wax in the synthetic binder composition allows for non-sticky, non-aggregating pellets that can be transported and stored at ambient temperatures without agglomeration, maintaining the binder's properties and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
Fischer-Tropsch wax with a melting point between 80 and 120 °C which forms a crystalline network at temperatures below 110 °C
Data Source
Figure 1~3b
Figure 4a~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a synthetic binder composition in pellet and an asphalt mixture that are suitably used to prepare pavements. The synthetic binder composition in pellet comprises at least one resin, at least one oil, at least one polymer, at least one Fischer-Tropsch wax, and at least one filler material. The synthetic binder composition can further comprise sulfur. The invention further relates to the processes for preparing the compositions.