Nanotechnology Incorporation into Road Pavement Design Based on Scientific Principles of Materials Chemistry and Engineering Physics Using New-Age (Nano) Modified Emulsion (NME) Stabilisation/Enhancement of Granular Materials

Gerrit J Jordaan,Wynand J Vdm Steyn

doi:10.3390/app11188525

Abstract

The use of naturally available materials not conforming to traditional specifications or standards in the base and sub-base layers of road pavement structures and stabilised with New-age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME) have been tested, implemented and successfully verified through Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) in South Africa. This was made possible through the development and use of a materials design procedure addressing fundamental principles and based on scientific concepts which are universally applicable. The understanding and incorporation of the chemical interactions between the mineralogy of the materials and an NME stabilising agent (compatibility between the chemistry of the reactive agents and material mineralogy) into the design approach is key to achieving the required engineering properties. The evaluation of the stabilised materials is performed using tests indicative of the basic engineering properties (physics) of compressive strengths, tensile strengths and durability. This article describes the basic materials design approach that was developed to ensure that organofunctional nano-silane modified emulsions can successfully be used for pavement layer construction utilising naturally available materials at a low risk. The enablement of the use of naturally available materials in all pavement layers can have a considerable impact on the unit cost and lifecycle costs of road transportation infrastructure.

Highlights

Organofunctional nano-silane technologies have been used in Europe for the protection of stone buildings for more than 150 years [1,2]
In practice, the introduction of applicable and proven nanotechnologies has been slow to receive acceptance. This scepticism in the pavement engineering fraternity has its origin in a constant flow of “wonder” products that have been introduced into the market by suppliers for the improvement of naturally available materials
Scientists in Europe have been tasked with developing products to protect stone buildings against the effect of water and pollution since the early 1800s

Summary

Introduction

Organofunctional nano-silane technologies have been used in Europe for the protection of stone buildings for more than 150 years [1,2]. In practice, the introduction of applicable and proven nanotechnologies has been slow to receive acceptance This scepticism in the pavement engineering fraternity has its origin in a constant flow of “wonder” products (commonly referred to as snake-oils) that have been introduced into the market by suppliers for the improvement of naturally available materials. These products have invariably been found wanting in practice, not meeting the anticipated results and leading to a general scepticism that is detrimental to the introduction of new technologies into the field of pavement material stabilisation. The premature distress can often be associated with the mineralogy of the materials (e.g., the presence of mica [14]), which is not accounted for using traditional design material testing

Objectives

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion