International. Asphalt materials inevitably suffer from cracking problems caused by age, temperature and load, but recently self-healing microcapsules containing a rejuvenator have offered a promising way to solve this problem.
In a research paper conducted by Highway School, Chang'an University, China, the microcapsules were prepared using an in situ polymerization method and the optimal preparation conditions were carefully explored, and then the morphology, particle size, coating rate, thermal stability and molecular structure of the microcapsules were thoroughly investigated.
In addition, they fully studied the healing capacity of asphalt containing microcapsules under conditions of low temperature and fatigue load. The results indicated that the microcapsules could survive during the asphalt melting process and showed good healing behavior in conditions of low temperature and fatigue load, but the healing efficiency increased first and then decreased with the additive amount of microcapsules and the optimal additive amount of microcapsules was 0.3-0.5% of asphalt weight.
Source: Science Direct.
