RESEARCH ON PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE OF WATERBORNE EPOXY RESIN-MODIFIED EMULSIFIED ASPHALT BINDERS AND POTHOLE REPAIR MATERIALS

Traditional emulsified asphalt pothole repair materials exhibit poor temperature sensitivity, low mechanical properties, and poor water stability. Two-component waterborne epoxy resin (WER) is composed of epoxy emulsion and a curing agent, and has remarkable mechanical properties, adhesion, durability, and environmental friendliness. Two-component waterborne epoxy resin (WER) was used to modify neat emulsified asphalt, enhancing its binder properties and improving the pavement performance of pothole repair materials. The influence of the WER modifier on the pavement performance of emulsified asphalt binder and its mixture was studied. The research showed that the WER emulsion and curing agents could polymerize and produce epoxy resin under emulsified asphalt as the dispersion medium. Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis indicated that the modification of the emulsified asphalt by WER was mainly physical. With an increase in the WER content, the mechanical properties and high-temperature deformation resistance of waterborne epoxy resin-modified emulsified asphalt (WEA) binder were significantly improved while ductility was decreased. The mechanical properties of the WEA mixture had an excellent linear correlation with the water-loss rate. When the WER content exceeded 15 %, the mechanical properties, water stability, high-temperature stability, and anti-stripping performance of the WEA mixture were significantly improved. When the WER content was less than 20 %, the modifier played a reinforcing role in the emulsified asphalt binder, and the low-temperature crack resistance of the WEA mixture gradually improved with the increase in the modifier content. After exceeding the critical content, the WEA mixture gradually exhibited brittleness and hardness, and its low-temperature performance decreased. In summary, it was recommended that the WER modifier content range be 15–20 % for the pothole repair material system.