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Using Polymer Modified Asphalt Emulsions in Surface Treatments A ...

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emulsions require a much longer set time than do their hot mix counterparts. In<br />

addition, Serfass et al report that higher SBS contents may be used <strong>in</strong> asphalt<br />

emulsions, s<strong>in</strong>ce modified hot mixes exhibit decreased adhesion and problematically<br />

high viscosities when higher SBS concentrations are used (18).<br />

Gransberg and Zaman (2005) exam<strong>in</strong>ed the relative performance and cost<br />

effectiveness of 342 chip seal projects <strong>in</strong> the State of Texas to compare the efficacy of<br />

hot mix b<strong>in</strong>ders to asphalt emulsions (65). The results of this study <strong>in</strong>dicate that PME<br />

performs at least as well as modified hot mix b<strong>in</strong>ders, and that the former does so at a<br />

lower cost while offer<strong>in</strong>g modest improvements <strong>in</strong> skid resistance and ride quality (65).<br />

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) generally utilizes asphalt emulsions<br />

<strong>in</strong> their chip seals on lower volume (i.e., < 2,000 ADT) roadways. Moreover, these<br />

asphalt emulsions are typically applied to pavements that are generally <strong>in</strong> poorer<br />

condition as compared to hot mix-based chip seal projects. In such cases, TxDOT<br />

differentiates between asphalt emulsion and hot mix chip seal applications based<br />

primarily on traffic volumes, because the latter requires a shorter cur<strong>in</strong>g time and as<br />

such, reduces lane closure times and traffic delays.<br />

The importance of asphalt emulsion cur<strong>in</strong>g time is further noted by Takamura (n.d.),<br />

who observes that <strong>in</strong> microsurfac<strong>in</strong>g applications, rutt<strong>in</strong>g resistance is shown to steadily<br />

improve when cur<strong>in</strong>g is extended from 1 day to 10 days (2 PG improvement), and from<br />

10 days to 1 month (3 PG additional improvement, 5 PG total). This study suggests an<br />

optimal cur<strong>in</strong>g time of about 20 days for SBR modified asphalt emulsion residue as<br />

shown <strong>in</strong> Figure 19 (54).<br />

2.5 <strong>Surface</strong> Application Types<br />

2.5.1 General<br />

This section presents those f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs of the literature review specific to common surface<br />

treatment applications where polymer modified asphalt emulsions may be employed.<br />

Among the treatment applications exam<strong>in</strong>ed are chip seals, slurry seals /<br />

microsurfac<strong>in</strong>g, and cape seals. The benefits and limitations of PME are exam<strong>in</strong>ed with<br />

56

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