ABSTRACT
This study explores the use of a water reacting polymer as a substitute to asphalt binder in constructing pavement wearing surfaces as a substitute of asphalt bitumen for low volume roads. The alternative binder is AP Soil 600, a pre-activated polymer that reacts with water. One of the advantages of polymer-based pavement is reduced heat absorption that could effectively reduce pavement temperatures. Another advantage is the reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases during and after construction. This study presents a methodology to design the mix constituents, polymer, and water content. Performance testing was conducted to evaluate the polymer-based mixes’ mechanical strength under compression, indirect tension, and resistance to rutting as compared to conventional asphalt mixes. It is suggested that polymer-based mixes can meet the demand for low volume road construction in dry zones.
