Technology: Water-Repelling Aggregates and Sands for Asphalt Pavement

Written By Bowen Li

Water-repelling aggregates and sands are rock materials engineered with water-repellent properties by treating with water-repellent coatings, making the aggregates ideal for asphalt pavements to minimize water absorption.

 At Michigan Tech, we have developed a technology to modify aggregates (rocks) from water-absorbing into water-repelling. This technique

  •  Doesn’t change the chemical composition of aggregates

  •  Doesn’t change particle size and shape of aggregates

  •  Doesn’t change the mechanical properties of aggregates

  •  Doesn’t change the colors of the rocks

 It’s only added a transparent nanoscale membrane on the surfaces of aggregates (in chunks, gravels, sands or fines) to improve the surface chemistry of rocks - this membrane blocks the moisture infiltration to aggregates, meanwhile, significantly increase adhesion of aggregate-bitumen.

 Benefits Using Water-repelling Aggregates

  •  Enhance interfacial adhesion of rocks-bitumen to minimize the nucleation and propagation of microcracks and other defects on the interfaces

  •  Restrict water and moisture infiltration into the particles, further reduce moisture impacts

  •  Improve the driving safety where the pavement surface is covered with water and minimize freeze-thaw effects in cold areas

  •  Significantly reduce the loss of bitumen on the pavement surface from raveling, distortions and cracking with the stronger adhesion

  •  Improve the surface fraction of the pavement to the tires of driving vehicles without wearing out the tire surface

  •  Covering the pavement surface with fine granules will reduce the aging of asphalt binder from UV radiation, and heat absorption of the surface from sunlight

  •  Covering road surface with fine granules will restore the pavement smoothness and reduce noise

  •  Overall: Prevent deterioration - reducing the risk of freeze-thaw damage, cracking, and structural weakening over time; Improves the durability of pavement, ensuring stability even in challenging environmental conditions.

 Please Contact Dr. Bowen Li for more information:

 Address: 511 Minerals and Materials Building, Michigan Technological University

 1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI, USA.

 Email: boli@mtu.edu

 Phone: +1 (906)487-4325

Bowen Li