Evaluating the Effects of Epoxy Resin on Moisture Sensitivity of Asphalt Mixtures by Surface Free Energy Measurement

In this paper the effect of Epoxy Resin polymer on moisture sensitivity of Asphalt mixtures containing Silica and limestone aggregates has been evaluated. Epoxy Resin without hardener and Epoxy Resin curing with hardener in 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weight percentages for Asphalt Binder modification have been applied. The method used for evaluating moisture sensitivity of Asphalt mixtures is Surface Free Energy method. In this method, with Surface Free Energy measurements of Asphalt Binder using Sessile Drop method and by using of the extracted values of Surface Free Energy of aggregates of valid reports, the energy parameters related to moisture sensitivity of Asphalt mixtures containing Asphalt Binder and aggregates compound, have been calculated and analyzed. At the end, base and modified Asphalt Binders with Epoxy Resin curing with hardener have been examined with FTIR test. The results show that the Epoxy Resin curing with hardener decreases moisture sensitivity of Asphalt mixtures containing Silica and limestone aggregates. Epoxy Resin without hardener does not have important effect on Asphalt mixtures containing limestone aggregates, but decreases moisture sensitivity of Asphalt mixtures containing Silica aggregates.