Development of Emulsion Residue Testing Framework for Improved Chip Seal Performance

To promote sustainability and optimize funding, state highway agencies are integrating pavement preservation strategies into the management of their roadway networks. Chip seals, a prominent pavement preservation alternative, are traditionally being used on low-volume roads with success in many states. However, as advancements in emulsion formulations continue and the use of chip seals on medium- and high-traffic facilities becomes more prevalent, there is a need to improve the methods to select and specify chip seal emulsions. The objective of this study was to develop an emulsion testing framework that captured properties related to critical distresses observed for in-service chip seals and considered the effects of traffic, environment, and aging. The proposed testing framework recommended the use of the dynamic shear rheometer and bitumen bond strength test to evaluate high-, intermediate-, and low-temperature performance. The testing protocols were applied to recovered and pressure aging vessel aged emulsion residues from six emulsions widely used in Wisconsin, which included two emulsifier chemistries and two types of modification. The base binders before emulsification were also tested to assess the effects of the emulsification process. Results indicated that the proposed test methods could characterize material performance and differentiate between emulsion types and types of modification; however, additional research is needed to establish the relationship between laboratory-measured residue properties and performance of the full chip seal.