A New Generation of Environmentally-Friendly Asphalt Emulsion: Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions
Hot applied asphalt cement, cutback asphalt, and emulsified asphalt have been used as tack coats and for chip seal applications. However, emulsified asphalt tack coats have been widely favored due to their additional benefits, such as reduced energy consumption, lower environmental impacts, and improved worker safety. The objective of this study is to conceive, test, and evaluate a new generation of environmentally-friendly “green” emulsified asphalt with lower environmental impacts than regular emulsified asphalts but with comparable performance. If successful, the proposed product may be used as an available environmentally friendly emulsified asphalt in the market. State and federal agencies will be interested in the proposed product in order to minimize the environmental impacts associated with road construction. Asphalt producers and suppliers will also be interested in adopting the new generation of emulsified asphalts to ensure that their products are tailored to the market needs in different parts of the country. The planned research activities include the following: Task (1) Conception and development of a new generation of environmentally friendly emulsified asphalts (lead: UA); Task (2): Evaluation of the rheological and aging properties of the developed emulsified asphalts and comparing them to conventional emulsified asphalts (lead: LSU); Task 3: Assessing the mechanistic performance of the newly developed emulsified asphalts (lead: UA); Task 4: Analyzing the performance data, environmental impacts, and cost effectiveness of emulsified asphalts (lead: LSU), and Task 5: Preparing final report (lead: LSU). The research team plans to explore various formulations for the emulsified asphalts. Once the most promising formulations are identified, the emulsions will be tested for paddle viscosity, sieve analysis, residue characteristics, particle size distribution using a laser diffraction analyzer, and storage stability. The availability of an environmentally friendly emulsified asphalt product, which incorporates recycled and degradable materials, has a strong value proposition for state highway agencies and contractors because it will allow them to reduce the environmental impacts of road construction and will provide an alternative to conventional emulsified asphalts, which are based on non-renewable sources. Based on the results of study, the research team will work with the intellectual property office at LSU to file a patent for the developed emulsified asphalts and pursue licensure opportunities. In addition, the multi-institutional research team will work with SPTC to organize a webinar to share the results of this study with the stakeholders on new advancements and findings.
- Record URL:
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $282011
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Contract Numbers:
69A3552348306
CY2-LSU-UARK-03
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
Southern Plains Transportation Center
University of Oklahoma
202 W Boyd St, Room 213A
Norman, OK United States 73019 -
Project Managers:
Dunn, Denise
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Performing Organizations:
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
P.O. Box 94245, Capitol Station
Baton Rouge, LA United States 70803University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
4190 Bell Engineering
Civil Engineering
Fayetteville, Arkansas United States 72701 -
Principal Investigators:
Elseifi, Mostafa
Braham, Andrew
- Start Date: 20241001
- Expected Completion Date: 20250930
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Asphalt emulsions; Chip seals; Environmental impacts; Materials adaptation and use; Sustainable transportation; Tack coats
- Subject Areas: Environment; Materials; Pavements;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01939998
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Southern Plains Transportation Center
- Contract Numbers: 69A3552348306, CY2-LSU-UARK-03
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Dec 16 2024 4:55PM