Laboratory Comparison of Solvent-Loaded and Solvent-Free Emulsions

摘要

Asphalt emulsions have been widely used in highway construction and maintenancesince the 1920s, initially as dust palliatives and spray applications. More recently, they have been used in more diverse paving applications such as base and surface course mixes, surface treatments and maintenance activities. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) uses nearly 450,000 Mg (500,000t) of cold mix, i.e., emulsified asphalt concrete (EAC), for construction and maintenance at a cost of approximately $10 million per year. For safety, environmental and economic reasons, the use of emulsions is likely to increase dramatically in the next ten years. The decrease in highway funding and the public's heightened environmental awareness demand innovative technology for roads of the 21st century. Recognizing the opportunities inherent in this challenge, some commercial enterprises have already developed solvent-free alternatives. Preliminary laboratory testing of solvent-free emulsions in