Gelation-Stabilized Functional Composite-Modified Bitumen for Anti-icing Purposes

Abstract

Ionic salts as anti-icing agents have been extensively used to eliminate accumulation of ice on asphalt surfaces. However, salt can be easily removed by rain or automobiles and requires frequent application on roads. Besides this economic consideration, anti-icing agents compromise the mechanical properties of asphalt and have a negative impact on living organisms and the environment when used in large amounts. Incorporation of hydrophilic salts into bitumen, a hydrophobic asphalt binder, and controlled release of specific molecules from this hydrophobic medium can provide an effective solution for reducing ice formation on pavements. Bitumen has previously been modified by various polymers, including styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) for improved strength and thermomechanical properties. However, an anti-icing function was not considered in those previous designs. In a previous study, we developed a functional polymer composite consisting of potassium formate (HCOOK) salt pockets dissolved in a hydrophilic gel medium and dispersed in a hydrophobic SBS polymer matrix. Here, we developed an innovative method to obtain polymer composite-modified bitumen and investigated further the anti-icing properties of the functional bitumen. We improved incorporation of this polymer composite into bitumen and demonstrated proper distribution of the composite within bitumen through morphological and rheological analysis. We characterized the anti-icing properties of modified bitumen surfaces and demonstrated significant increases in freezing delay of composite-modified bitumen compared to base bitumen in a temperature- and humidity-controlled chamber. In addition, we characterized the release of HCOOK salt from polymer composite-modified bitumen and observed salt release within the range of 1.07–10.8% (w/w) in 67 days, depending on the composite content. The results demonstrate the potential of this polymer composite-modified bitumen for anti-icing functionality and for industrially relevant applications.

Photocatalytic asphalt pavement: the physicochemical and rheological impact of TiO2 nano/microparticles and ZnO microparticles onto the bitumen

“…The particles were incorporated into the bitumen at 160°C for 5 min in a low shear mixer. This process, commonly used in bitumen modification for the road pavements (Aydin, Kizilel, Caniaz, & Kizilel, 2015;Lu & Isacsson, 1997), is carried out through a continuous rotation using a shear rate of 200 rpm in order to ensure a homogeneous mix. In the process, the used time is appropriate to promote modification ensuring the mix homogeneity and at the same time, it is also short enough to avoid the bitumen ageing.…”

Bioinspired Surfaces with Superwettability for Anti‐Icing and Ice‐Phobic Application: Concept, Mechanism, and Design

“…Ice accumulation is not only a concern for drivers, but also the cause for personal injuries on walkways due to numerous slipping and falling. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] When ice accumulates on the wings of aircraft, turbine engine structures, or insulators and transmission lines on power systems, it will impose serious problems and cause some disastrous damage in the aircraft and power industry. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] In the winter of 2008-2009, frozen rain lasted for more than three weeks in Hunan and Jiangxi provinces, causing downfall of 37% of Ice accumulation poses a series of severe issues in daily life.…”

“…Ice accumulating on solid surfaces can cause serious problems on roads, aircrafts, power lines, ships, and some energy equipment. Statistics indicates that 10–15% of roadway accidents are related to weather conditions, which have caused thousands of human injuries and deaths and millions of dollars in property damage annually.…”

“…Statistics indicates that 10–15% of roadway accidents are related to weather conditions, which have caused thousands of human injuries and deaths and millions of dollars in property damage annually. Ice accumulation is not only a concern for drivers, but also the cause for personal injuries on walkways due to numerous slipping and falling . When ice accumulates on the wings of aircraft, turbine engine structures, or insulators and transmission lines on power systems, it will impose serious problems and cause some disastrous damage in the aircraft and power industry .…”

P2X7 receptor antagonist delivery vehicle based on photocrosslinked amphiphilic hybrid gels

“…Prepolymer solution (with an internal volume fraction of 25% (v/v)) is stabilized by silica nanoparticle dispersion (1.5 wt/v%) in cyclohexanone to obtain Pickering emulsion which we developed and used in our previous studies. 34,35 The particle dispersion was kept at room temperature. PEGDA prepolymer (0.5 mL) was added to 1.5 mL of nanoparticle stock solution under high shear by applying vortex.…”