PROSPECTS FOR THE APPLICATION OF FILLED FUNCTIONAL-GRADIENT EPOXY COMPOSITES IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION

One of the most important tasks of any construction is to ensure durability and wear resistance of structural materials, including span structures. For bridge structures one of the most critical structures are expansion joints and their transition zones. The paper considers the use of epoxy composites with increased climatic resistance as a way to increase the strength of the transition zone of bridge structures. The study is especially relevant when us-ing these materials to strengthen the transition zones of expansion joints of highways. The paper presents the results of research in the field of epoxy composites with increased resistance to UV-irradiation. The study also considers the influence of the degree of filling and granulometric composition of the filler on the exothermicity of the curing process of epoxy composites. Antioxidants of amine and phenolic types, which have a stabilizing effect on epoxy composites under the action of UV-irradiation, are proposed. In addition, the influence of micromarble (microcalcite) - mineral carbonate filler on the reduction of exothermicity of the curing reaction of epoxy composite was considered. As a result, materials with a complex of increased technological and operational properties have been suggested, which can be successfully used for reinforcement of transition zones of expansion joints of highway bridge structures.