Durability Investigation of Ultra-Thin Polyurethane Wearing Course for Asphalt Pavement

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Pavement durability is crucial for road infrastructure.
• Developing wear-resistant materials is essential for extending pavement lifespan.
• Polyurethane offers potential as a binder for advanced pavement layers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and evaluate the durability of a polyurethane-based ultra-thin wear layer for pavement applications.
• To investigate the relationship between macro-texture, wear properties, and anti-skid performance.
• To assess the aging resistance of the polyurethane wear layer under accelerated UV exposure.

Main Methods:

• Abrasion testing using a tire-pavement dynamic friction analyzer (TDFA).
• Laser profile scanning for surface elevation analysis.
• Fourier infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy for material aging analysis.
• Pull-out and accelerated UV aging tests.

Main Results:

• Significant multivariate quadratic polynomial relationships were found between texture parameters (MPD, λa) and wear indices (SBI, σ, ω) and the pavement's skidding performance.
• The polyurethane wear layer exhibited excellent resistance to UV aging, with only a 2.59% decrease in tensile strength after 16 days.
• No significant aggregate or structural spalling was observed after UV exposure.

Conclusions:

• The developed polyurethane ultra-thin wear layer demonstrates high durability and excellent anti-skid properties for pavement applications.
• The material's performance is strongly correlated with its surface macro-texture and wear characteristics.
• Polyurethane is a promising material for creating resilient and long-lasting pavement surfaces with minimal degradation from environmental factors like UV radiation.