Phase-Change Rubber Asphalt Additive for Snow Melting and Ice Breaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing asphalt pavements face issues with snow accumulation and ice formation due to low snow melting efficiency and limited ice breaking capabilities, leading to reduced skid resistance and safety, with current solutions either deforming or losing durability.
Innovation Solution
A rubber material for asphalt roads is prepared using a matrix of addition type molding liquid silicone rubber and modified graphene oxide-vinyl MQ silicone resin composite wall material phase-change microcapsules, enhancing self-stress ice breaking and phase-change snow melting functions through a cross-linking reaction and uniform dispersion of graphene oxide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If phase-change cold storage materials are added to asphalt mixtures to achieve thermally induced ice and snow melting, then snow melting function is improved, but the materials are easily deformed and broken under external loads, resulting in loss of phase-change materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent encapsulates phase-change materials (n-tetradecane) within microcapsules having a flexible silicone resin shell. This shell structure protects the brittle phase-change material from deformation and breakage under external loads while allowing the material to maintain its snow melting function through phase change at low temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining phase-change materials with silicone resin to form microcapsules. This composite approach integrates the thermal energy storage capability of the phase-change material with the mechanical durability and flexibility of the silicone resin shell, resolving the contradiction between functionality and reliability.
2Strength
If rubber particles with high elasticity are added to asphalt mixtures to achieve self-stress elastic pavements, then ice breaking capability is improved, but the durability of the mixes decreases and difficulties in forming occur when too much elastic material is added
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the properties of rubber particles by incorporating modified graphene oxide and conducting silane modification. This changes the physical and chemical parameters of the rubber particles, enhancing their ice breaking capability through improved elasticity and stress-strain behavior while maintaining durability by preventing excessive deformation under repeated loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by specifically modifying the surface and internal structure of rubber particles through graphene oxide incorporation and silane cross-linking. This localized modification improves ice breaking capability at the particle level without requiring excessive amounts of elastic material throughout the entire asphalt mixture, thus avoiding durability issues.
3Force
If conventional rubber particles are used for self-stress ice breaking, then ice layer deformation is achieved, but cracks and flaking cannot be produced if the ice layer thickness is too large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the mechanical parameters of rubber particles through silane modification and graphene oxide incorporation, increasing their elasticity, tensile strength, and energy absorption capacity. These parameter changes enable the modified rubber particles to generate sufficient force to crack and Flake thick ice layers that conventional rubber particles cannot break.
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 rubber material effectively improves viscoelasticity and stress-strain behaviors, ensuring long-life durability and efficient phase-change snow melting, while maintaining thermal stability and mechanical properties, addressing snow accumulation and ice formation.
Implementation Method 1
a cross-linking reaction occurs through active vinyl groups borne on the surface of silicone resin with hydrogen-containing silicone oil, a cross-linking agent of rubber, to form network cross-linking points to be fixed inside the rubber in a chemically cross-linked mode
Implementation Method 2
The phase-change cold storage materials can release heat when the temperature of the asphalt pavements decreases, and plays a role in retarding pavement ice formation
Implementation Method 3
The phase-change materials can be effectively prevented from leaking, coming into direct contact with road materials, and affecting the use performance of roads
Implementation Method 4
Under the action of external loads, the elastic materials undergo large deformation to break ice layers of the pavements, thereby playing a role in suppressing ice formation on the pavements
Implementation Method 5
The self-stress elastic pavements are mainly achieved by adding materials having high elasticity like rubber particles to asphalt mixtures
Implementation Method 6
a filler of modified graphene oxide-vinyl MQ silicone resin composite wall material phase-change microcapsules, has both self-stress ice breaking and phase-change snow melting functions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a rubber material for asphalt roads having both self-stress ice breaking and phase-change snow melting functions and a preparation method thereof. A stable oil-in-water emulsion is prepared with n-tetradecane as a phase-change core material, then KH550 modification is performed to promote cross-linking of graphene and vinyl MQ silicone resin, and then a prepolymer is subject to hydrolytic polycondensation on a surface of the oil-in-water emulsion using an in-situ emulsion polymerization method to prepare modified graphene oxide-vinyl MQ silicone resin composite wall material phase-change microcapsules; vinyl MQ silicone resin undergoes a cross-linking reaction with hydrogen-containing silicone oil, a cross-linking agent of rubber, through active vinyl groups borne on the surface, thereby achieving a strengthening effect, effectively improving viscoelasticity and stress-strain behaviors of the silicone rubber, and preparing the rubber material for asphalt roads having both good elasticity and phase-change energy storage function.