Pre-swelled VAE Polymer Powder for Asphalt Mixing
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional polymer modifiers like SBR/SBS require high-temperature melting and long processing times, leading to increased costs and decreased productivity, and their pre-swelling with petrochemical solvents poses health risks and further cost increases.
Innovation Solution
A redispersible polymer powder composition comprising a vinylacetate-ethylene (VAE)-based polymer pre-swelled with a solvent, achieving a swelling ratio exceeding 55%, which allows for improved compatibility and miscibility with asphalt, reducing production time and costs while maintaining physical property performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SBR/SBS-based polymer modifiers are used to improve asphalt performance, then elasticity and durability are improved, but processing time increases significantly (at least 5 hours) and processing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the polymer modifier from solid (requiring melting) to pre-dissolved liquid form. This parameter change allows the polymer to be directly mixed with asphalt at lower temperatures and shorter times, resolving the contradiction between maintaining performance and improving processing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer modifier is pre-dissolved in a solvent before being added to the asphalt. This preliminary action of dissolution is performed in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming melting and mixing processes during asphalt production, thus improving productivity while maintaining the polymer's performance benefits
2Ease of operation
If SBR/SBS-based polymer modifiers are pre-swelled with petrochemical solvents to improve workability, then mixing is easier, but health risks increase and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and harmful petrochemical solvents with water as the dissolution medium. Water is inexpensive, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly, thus eliminating health risks while maintaining the workability benefits of pre-dissolved polymer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the typically harmful petrochemical solvent step into a beneficial process by using water instead. This substitution transforms a harmful operation into a safe and environmentally friendly one, while still achieving the desired pre-dissolution effect that improves ease of operation
3Productivity
If high-speed stirring homogenizer (1,000 to 3,000 rpm) is used to mix melted polymer with asphalt, then mixing efficiency is improved, but processing costs and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the polymer from melted solid to pre-dissolved liquid. This parameter change allows mixing to occur at much lower speeds and temperatures, dramatically reducing energy consumption while maintaining mixing efficiency
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 pre-swelled VAE-based polymer powder composition exhibits excellent compatibility and miscibility with asphalt, significantly reducing production time and costs while matching or exceeding the performance of conventional polymer modifiers.
Implementation Method 1
a vinylacetate-ethylene (VAE)-based redispersible polymer powder pre-swelled by the solvent
Data Source
AI summary
A redispersible polymer powder composition includes at least one solvent selected from a process oil and an organic solvent, and a vinylacetate-ethylene (VAE)-based redispersible polymer powder pre-swelled by the solvent. The swelling ratio of the vinylacetate-ethylene (VAE)-based redispersible polymer powder exceeds 55%, measured by the equation swelling ratio (%)=[(B−A)/A]×100, where A is the initial mass of the vinylacetate-ethylene (VAE)-based redispersible polymer powder before adding the solvent, and B is the swelled mass of the vinylacetate-ethylene (VAE)-based redispersible polymer powder after adding the solvent and stirring at 300 rpm at room temperature (20° C.) for 30 minutes provided that the mixing ratio of the vinylacetate-ethylene (VAE)-based redispersible polymer powder and the solvent is 1:1 by weight.