DEVELOPMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE COST-EFFECTIVE SEALANT FOR CONCRETE AIRFIELD PAVEMENTS

THERE IS AN EMPHATIC NEED FOR RESEARCH INTO DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COST-EFFECTIVE MATERIALS TO SEAL AND RESEAL CONCRETE AIRFIELD PAVEMENT JOINTS. PRESENT METHODS/MATERIALS EMPLOYED RESULT IN INADEQUATE SERVICE LIFE OF THE JOINTS BECAUSE OF MATERIAL DETERIORATION DUE TO 1) HIGH TEMPERATURE JET EXHAUST BLASTS, 2) LOADING/ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED STRESSES, AND 3) INADEQUATE FUEL/SOLVENT RESISTANCE. THESE DEFICIENCIES LEAD TO MATERIAL FAILURE OR FAILURE OF THE BOND BETWEEN THE SEALANT AND HOST CONCRETE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRFIELDS. PROPOSES HEREIN IS AN EXPERIMENTAL PPROACH THAT INVOLVES 1) SELECTIG A SILICONE SEALANT WITH PROPERTIES THAT ESSENTIALLY MEET THE SOLVENT RESISTANCE, WEATHERING, AND MECHANICAL DEGRADATION STANDARDS, 2) ENHANCING THE SEALANT'S ADHESION TO CONCRETE BY CREATING SUPERIOR INTERFACIAL CHEMICAL BNDS WITH THE UE OF A SPECIAL COUPLIG AGENT, AND 3) COVERING ITS SURFACE WITH A VERY HIGH-TEMPERATURE-RESISTANT ABLATIVE OR OTHER LOW THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COATING TO WITHSTAND JET BLAST EFFECTS. THIS PROPOSED STUDY, TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF THE ABOVE DESCRIBED INNOVATIVE AND PROMISING APPROACH, IS ANTICIPATED TO RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY EXTENDED SERVICE PERFORMANCE OF CONCRETE PAVEMENT JOINT SEALANTS, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND STRESSES DEVELOPED DURING NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.