An investigation into the behaviour of natural gravel primed with new-age modified emulsions (NME)

Abstract

The use of a Nano-Modified Emulsion (NME) as a palliative and primer is explored in this paper. The main areas of interest of the research are the aggregate binding effect that NMEs have on treated (primed) samples. NME’s ability to increase the surface strength (cohesion and punching resistance) of primed material is of importance when considering the use of an NME primer as a palliative (improved cohesion) for gravel roads or as a primer (improved punching resistance) to support thin seals. Hence, the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test was performed on primed and unprimed (control) samples to evaluate the change in surface strength, i.e., increase in punching resistance and a means of quantifying a change in cohesion. A G9 (COTO) material was treated with three emulsions, namely:  Standard SS-60 emulsion (SS-60)  SS-60 emulsion modified with alkoxy-silane-emulsifier (NME)  An emulsion containing alkoxy-silane-emulsifier and graduated polymers as the binders (Clearsil) The laboratory level investigation involved priming G9 material with the two emulsions so that a change in CBR strength could be compared to the unprimed (ceteris paribus) control samples. G9 samples primed with the SS-60 emulsions resulted in no change in the CBR strength compared to the unprimed control samples. The NME on the other hand was able to increase the CBR strength of primed samples in the upper 5 mm of the samples.