Rejuvenation Treatments For Aged Pavements Glynn Holleran, John Tailby Tom Wieringa

Rejuvenation Treatments for Aged Pavements

Glynn Holleran, Tom Wieringa, John Tailby
Fulton Hogan Ltd, Opus International Consultants

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ABSTRACT
The aging of bitumen is a complex process based on the chemical composition of the bitumen, the pavement structure and climate. As bitumen ages it becomes more brittle and surface cracking and ravelling may occur. Reseal or overlay treatments do not change the underlying binder characteristics and reflective cracking can occur. Rejuvenation systems have as an aim the modification of this underlying bituminous material to create a rejuvenated binder that is more flexible. In USA such treatments have become common in states where oxidation levels are high including California. This paper considers the process of oxidative aging in general terms and the process of rejuvenation. Emulsion is the best way to deliver such a system; it can be in a number of forms including a rejuvenation sealer, an enrichment emulsion or a chip sealing emulsion. In this work Fulton Hogan developed an engineered emulsion based product with the assistance of Opus consultants for the purpose of sealing and rejuvenation in one step. The development, testing is described. The application on an aged slurry surface at Whakatane airport in February 2006 is described. In this project a chipsealing version was applied, this was polymer modified and designed as a single coat grade 6 seal. Surface texture, cracking and stone loss are being monitored on a monthly basis. Similar work carried out in the state of California in USA is also discussed with respect to longer-term performance. Such systems appear to have the capability of reducing reflective cracking and maintaining pavement integrity.

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Rejuvenation Treatments For Aged Pavements Glynn Holleran, John Tailby Tom Wieringa

1. INTRODUCTION
Bitumen is a complex mixture of chemical compounds. It can be characterised by fractionation into groups based on polarity. This is sometimes broken down into asphaltenes- the structuring higher molecular weight highly polar portion, the resinsthe flexibilising polar portion and the oils , that may be aromatic or aliphatic- these are dispersing components.. What can differentiate rheology is the balance and nature of these materials. All aging changes this basic balance in the bitumen(1). There are several mechanisms of aging in bitumen and they depend on the bitumen composition as well as climate and the aggregate in the system. (1,2). The main mechanisms of aging of bitumen are oxidation and the loss of volatiles. When bitumen ages it becomes higher in viscosity ( stiffer) and the composition changes noticeably. These changes can lead to brittleness and loss of adhesion, especially in the presence of water. (Oxidation products are acidic and can be hydrolysed). 1.2 Oxidation As bitumens age they incorporate oxygen at reactive sites. These sites may be either hetero-atoms (S, N, O) or benzylic carbon groups (3) . Heteroatoms in un-aged bitumen may be polar or non polar. For example aliphatic sulphur is non-polar but becomes sulphoxide when oxidised. Similarly carbon is non polar but becomes a polar carbonyl when oxidised. This increase in polarity of components allows the formation of molecular associations that stiffen the binder. Compounds formed include sulphoxides, anhydrides, carboxylic acids and ketones. 1.2 Volatility Lower molecular weight oils fractions- part of they dispersing phase may sometimes be lost by evaporation. This mostly occurs in handling but, depending on the bitumen, occur over time in the surface of the road. Such loss changes the bitumen compositional balance. 1.3 Effect on Bitumen Increases in polar groups will increase associations hence stiffening. This process is not reversible. This can also create a relative depletion of oils and a more brittle binder is formed. Decreases in oils will result in the same brittleness. This makes a compositionally unstable product with high levels of hydrolysable groups. Hence cohesion and adhesion is compromised. The rate at which this occurs will depend on the bitumen composition and the conditions of handling and service. 1.4 Effect on Road Brittle binder is less able to resist cracking and ravelling and this effect is exacerbated at low temperatures and high rates of traffic loading. 1.5 Rejuvenation of Aged Binders Rejuvenation in principle is simple, replace the oils lost and rebalance the bitumen composition so it is no longer brittle. This is not generally possible, as it would require sophisticated extraction testing and remodelling of binder in the road. For this reason

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Rejuvenation Treatments For Aged Pavements Glynn Holleran, John Tailby Tom Wieringa an averaging process is more practical. This involves the use of a bituminous oils/resin fraction. In general many formerly used aromatic oils that were the mainstay of rejuvenation systems are no longer easy to access and many have health questions associated with them. For this reason FH worked with an oil supplier to develop a useable system. The main aim was to soften the aged binder and create a broad-spectrum rejuvenation that replenished volatiles and dispersing oils while promoting adhesion. In aged systems acidic species for example can compromise adhesion in the presence of water, these obviously cannot be removed from the bitumen so needs to be counteracted in some way. This may be done chemically with alkaline additives. The controlling factor in rejuvenation is diffusion, to ensure a positive result the level of diffusion must be controlled by careful choice of rejuvenator and the delivery method (4). 1.5 Emulsion requirements To be effective the rejuvenation needs to be in contact with the aged binder and have the ability to penetrate this binder. The emulsion needs thus to be stable, however in sealing systems the emulsion must also coat wet and adhere to stone quickly. For this reason careful formulation and emulsifier choice is needed. Emulsion general requirements thus are no different to the application specific requirements of any emulsion. In this rejuvenation approach different applications can be accommodated and the emulsion is developed to act largely independently of the rejuvenator by balancing formulation parameters. 1.6 Seal Intent Figure 1 describes the intent of the rejuvenation seal or enrichment. Surface aged and cracked

Rejuvenator emulsion sprayed

Penetrates surface

Aggregate or sand spread

Seal formed with rejuvenated base

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Rejuvenation Treatments For Aged Pavements Glynn Holleran, John Tailby Tom Wieringa

2. EXPERIMENTAL
The basic applications developed are rejuvenation seals, a system that can reseal a pavement while rejuvenating it and enrichment seals that can be applied to asphalt surfaces to penetrate and seal without aggregate cover. Table 1 shows characteristic properties. Rejuvenation is measured as penetration into the aged pavement surface and also by assessment of the binder in the upper layer of the aged surface.

Test Sieve Binder content Viscosity (cp) 70C Penetration into pavement (minimum)

Paveflex PRS NA 75% 750 5mm

Paveflex ER1 0.01 65% 400 5mm

Table 1 Typical emulsion properties The binder is chosen for the application and may or may not be polymer modified. This decision is solely based on expected binder performance and not on rejuvenation. Penetration into the pavement is checked visually on site but also during product development on a cut out section of pavement. In some instances the existing pavement surface is assessed for degree of aging by calculation of aging index to determine the level of rejuvenation required to return the binder to a predetermined level. This may be in relation to RTFOT based binder or in some cases PAV aged binder. In most cases an experience factor is used.

3. Field Work
3.1 Whakatane Airport The job was undertaken by FH Bay of Plenty staff and initiated by Opus consultants who had decided that the runway required a resurfacing. There was significant deterioration to slurry that had been applied some years before. This included scabbing, cracking and extensive lichen infestation. The first slurry area was very dry and brittle. The slurry done in 2003 was cracking significantly. The alternatives were to mill off the existing surface and replace, or to restore what was there, this meant rejuvenation. The decision was taken to try the rejuvenation. The intent was to enliven the existing slurry surface to give good adhesion, improve the flexibility of the existing surface, water proof the surface and create a stable layer for future surfacing. This product was sprayed at around 1 lt/m2 residual and covered with a grade 6 chip. After 8 months the seal is performing well. Trenching showed that the dry and brittle slurry surface has become flexible.

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Rejuvenation Treatments For Aged Pavements Glynn Holleran, John Tailby Tom Wieringa 3.2 Road work Further work with this product was carried out on a highway to rejuvenate chip seals and this is also performing well. Enrichment work was carried out on a suburban street. This was formerly asphalt but it had aged and cracked significantly. An enrichment version of the rejuvenation was done and a fine aggregate cover applied. This should have been perhaps a sand cover to maintain the asphalt smoothness. However the product penetrated the surface well and formed a good seal. One drawback of using this lower binder product was the time for cure. The seal has settled to a good surface. 3.3 USA work Rejuvenation seals have been extensively used in USA, California has used them for many years (5). The systems used are based on a number of proprietary products different to those used in New Zealand but with similar intent. 5-6 year life extension is expected and reportedly achieved. Rejuvenation seals are a method of extending road service life. They are one of a tool kit of pavement preservation and maintenance methods that include slurry surfacing, chip seals and overlays. Used at the right time, and in the right place. Treatment selection is a key.

4. CONCLUSION
Rejuvenation systems have a track record in USA for extending pavement life. The mode of operation depends on the emulsion formulation and bringing the rejuvenator in contact with the aged pavement. This can optimise the diffusion into the age pavement. Successful formulations have been made to seal and enrich asphalt and chip seal surfaces and the life extension- claimed 5-6 years in USA- might become apparent with time in NZ.

5. REFERENCES
1. Jones ,D R (1992) An Asphalt Primer SHRP Asphalt Research program Technical memorandum #4 2. Holleran, G (2005) Compositionally Controlled Bitumen for Quality http://www.slurry.com/techpapers/techpapers_contrbit.shtml 3. Shell Bitumen Handbook(1990) Shell Bitumen UK pp 132-133 4. Karlsson,R, Issacsson,U (2003) Application of FTIR-ATR to Characterisation of Bitumen Rejuvenator Diffusion J. Mat in Civ. Engrg. Vol 15 Issue 2 pp 157-165 5. Holleran,G (2005) Rejuvenation Emulsions Asphalt Contractor 16-20 July 2005

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