What Is an Asphalt Repair Material?
An asphalt repair material is used to repair aging asphalt that has become cracked, dented, or worn due to vehicle traffic or weather conditions.
There are two types of repair materials: the volatile hardening type, which can be easily purchased at home centers, etc. It can be applied simply by pouring the repair material into the area to be repaired and applying rolling pressure. The chemical reaction type, in which hardening, is accelerated by pouring water on the poured area. The application and characteristics of each type differ, so they are used differently depending on the type of construction.
Uses of Asphalt Repair Materials
Asphalt repair materials are used in various situations, regardless of the size of the project, from repairing aging asphalt to temporary restoration work, as well as repairing parking lots and pavement to prevent weeds.
Chemical reaction type repair materials are the most suitable for road repair work because they are all-weather type and can be used in rainy or wet conditions.
While the volatile hardening type is inferior in terms of durability, it does not require water and can be applied simply by applying pressure with a shovel or similar tool, so it is used for temporary pipe restoration work.
Characteristics of Asphalt Repair Materials
Asphalt repair materials are characterized by their quick curing time of approximately 1~2 hours after pouring and applying pressure to minimize the road closure time during the repair.
If the repaired material’s hardness after curing is excessively high, it can be prone to cracking due to the stresses imposed by vehicle traffic. Therefore, the repair material must have a certain degree of flexibility to follow the distortion and hardness must be hard to vary in curing.
Asphalt can be divided into two types: heated types, which harden when cooled, and room-temperature composites, which can be stored at room temperature.
Heated asphalt is not suitable for emergency repairs because it must be heated before use and is used for new roads and parking lots, while room-temperature composites are used for repairs because they can be stored in bags and used immediately.
The strength and cost of room temperature composites vary by type, with the volatile-curing type being less expensive due to its lower strength, while the chemical reaction type has superior strength, but is more expensive.