MODEL STUDIES AND INTERPRETIVE REVIEW OF THE COMPETITIVE ADSORPTION AND WATER DISPLACEMENT OF PETROLEUM ASPHALT CHEMICAL FUNCTIONALITIES ON MINERAL AGGREGATE SURFACES

Moisture-induced damage in petroleum asphalt pavements, which results in a loss of pavement tensile strength, is a significant contributor to pavement performance problems such as rutting, shoving, flushing and cracking. Results of the present study provide fundamental information on some of the chemistries of moisture-induced damage. Model compounds containing polar chemical functional group types found in asphalts were used to simulate the adsorption-water displacement characteristics of asphalt molecules on mineral aggregate surfaces. A comparative and interpretative discussion of the model compound studies and earlier studies on actual asphalt-aggregate mixtures is presented. Carboxylic acids were confirmed as the functional type most strongly adsorbed on most mineral aggregate surfaces; however, they were also the functional type most easily water displaced. Pyridine-type functionality similar to that found in asphalts reduced the sensitivity of asphalt-aggregate mixtures to moisture damage. Results suggest that prior treatment of aggregates with antistripping agents rather than their prior addition to the asphalts should improve the moisture resistance of mixtures. The reaction of carboxylic acids with aggregate surfaces prior to the reaction of the aggregate surfaces with pyridine-type functionality greatly increased the sensitivity of the pyridine types to displacement by water. Also, the reaction of pyridine with carboxylic acid functionalities prior to their adsorption on aggregate surfaces also increased their sensitivity to water displacement. Results of the model compound studies provided further interpretation of the results of earlier fundamental studies on the adsorption and water displacement characteristics of actual asphalt components from aggregates typically used in paving mixtures. Results are interpreted with regard to their usefulness in finding pragmatic solutions to pavement pavement moisture damage problems. Further needed research is also suggested.