Self-Healing Asphalt Prepared by using Ionic Epoxy Resin

Anionic epoxy compound was synthesized and added to asphalt aiming to prepare self-healing asphalt. Epoxy-modified asphalt showed excellent modification effect and healing effect as well. The results revealed that with 5% addition of polymer the tensile strength, impact strength and complex shear modulus of the polymer-modified asphalt increased by 65%. 64% and 35%, respectively. It seems that high interaction occurs between polymer and asphalt matrix. Self-healing efficiency of the polymer-modified asphalt based on tensile strength showed 100%, comparing to 79% of straight asphalt. In impact experiment the polymer-modified asphalt showed 99% of healing efficiency, comparing to 77% of straight asphalt. In rheological experiment the polymer-modified asphalt showed 103% of healing efficiency, comparing to 72% of straight asphalt. It appears that the ionic bonding existing in epoxy polymers contributed to high values of self-healing efficiency. The polymer which has high intermolecular force fills the crack of the asphalt, pulling the opponent side each other, and so the original properties were restored.