Evaluation of Laboratory and Field Performance of High Performance Cold Mix Patching Material with Reduced Volatile Organic Compound Content

Laboratory and field performance of a High Performance Cold Mix (HPCM) utilizing a cutback asphalt cement binder that is compliant with potential Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) restrictions anticipated to be implemented by Environment Canada was evaluated. An HPCM cutback asphalt binder meeting an ASTM D402 distillation test criteria limiting the VOC content to 0.5 percent at 260 degrees Celsius was developed and used in a production trial of reduced VOC compliant HPCM patching material. A conventional HPCM cutback asphalt binder with a VOC of 38.5 percent at 260 degrees Celsius served as the control. Bulk stockpiles of reduced VOC and conventional HPCM were produced in a cold process using a pug mill with wet and unheated aggregates. A laboratory evaluation of stockpile field samples over a five month period found that both the low VOC content and conventional HPCM materials had acceptable properties in terms of low temperature workability, mix cohesion, moisture sensitivity, compaction at low temperatures, and draindown. The field performance of the non VOC and conventional HPCM was monitored over a four month period under slow moving heavy construction vehicle traffic. Both materials performed well when evaluated for bleeding, dishing, disintegration of the cold mix material along the edge of the pothole, missing cold patch, raveling, and shoving. (A) For the covering abstract of this conference see ITRD record number 201402RT334E.