Curing process and properties of hydrogenated bisphenol a epoxy resin particles by an interfacial polymerization method for asphalt pavements

Based on the principle of the interfacial polymerization method and the mechanism of polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether (JH-230), which can be used to adjust the molecular structure of the polymer, four kinds of hydrogenated bisphenol A epoxy resin (AL-3040) particles were prepared by the hydrogenated bisphenol A epoxy resin (AL-3040), polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether (JH-230), isophorone diamine (IPDA), gum acacia powder and distilled water with different molar ratios between the AL-3040 and the JH-230. The curing process and molecular structures of the AL-3040 particles were measured by the fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), the thermal property and glass-transition temperature (Tg) of the cured AL-3040 particles were studied by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the corresponding particle size distribution and the microscopic structure were observed by the laser particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The needle penetration, softening point and recovery performance of asphalt with and without the cured AL-3040 particles (Tg = 14.8 °C) were tested by the asphalt penetration test, asphalt softening point test and elasticity recovery test, respectively. Results show that the complete curing time of the AL-3040 particles were extended and the Tg of the cured AL-3040 particles decreased with increased JH-230 content. The AL-3040 particles are smooth regular balls and homogeneous in distribution. It is suggested that the complete curing time and the Tg of cured AL-3040 particles can be controlled by adjusting the JH-230 content. It has proven that the AL-3040 particles are beneficial to improving the recovery performance of the asphalt. The results lead to a solution to the asphalt pavement distress problems caused by the temperature variations.