Development of high-toughness, low-viscosity, nano-molecular resins for reinforcing pothole patching materials

摘要

As the nation's asphalt pavements age and deteriorate, the need for corrective measures to restore safety and rideability increases. The potholes and alligator cracks in the asphalt pavement of our country's roadways have become an annoying part of our daily life and no innovative technologies are available to improve the safety of US drivers, reduce the cost of road maintenance. We have identified a polymeric material, dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) resin, which can be cured by Grubb's catalyst and other commercially available catalysts to become an ultratough material with all the desired properties for pothole repair. We have characterized DCPD infiltration characteristics using non-destructive CT scan, and the mechanical properties using indirect tensile test under hot, cold or wet conditions. The preliminary results show that DCPD is a promising material for applications in reinforced pothole patching materials.