Partially Replacing the Emulsified Asphalt in Cement Emulsified Asphalt Mortars with Epoxy Emulsion: Mechanical Properties and Durability Study

Abstract

Cement emulsified asphalt (CEA) mortars achieve insufficient bond strength with substrate cement concrete slab. To ameliorate problems emerging from this, the emulsified asphalt (EA) in CEA mortars was partly replaced by epoxy emulsion (EE) at contents of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, yielding CEA mortars with enhanced properties. The bond strength, mechanical strength, toughness, and durability (including drying shrinkage and erosion resistance) of modified CEA mortars were assessed. The results showed that partial replacement of EA with EE improved the bond strength, mechanical strength, drying shrinkage, and erosion resistance of CEA mortars. A good correlation was found between the proportions of the EE replacement and the bond strength of CEA mortars. Partial replacement of EA with a small amount of EE exerted no significant effect on the toughness of CEA mortar. The stronger network structure of CEA mortars containing EE improved the compactness, thus improving the performance of CEA mortars. Based on these findings, EE is suggested as partial replacement of EA for enhancing the properties of CEA mortars.