PURPOSES : Experimental findings pertaining to the mechanical properties and microstructures of calcium sulfo-aluminate (CSA) cement and amorphous calcium aluminate (ACA) cement based-repair mortars incorporated with anhydrite gypsum (AG) are described herein. METHODS : To prepare the mortars, the CSA or ACA as binders were adopted and the ratio of water–binder was fixed at 0.57. For comparison, mortar made of Type I ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was prepared. The fluidity, setting time, compressive and bond strengths and absorption of the mortars were measured at predetermined periods. In addition, the microstructures of paste samples using OPC, CSA or ACA were visually examined through SEM observation. RESULTS : The ACA-based mortars showed the increases in the fluidity, and the acceleration of the setting time. Furthermore, the ACAbased binder effectively enhanced the compressive and bond strengths of the mortars owing to amount of formation of C2AH8 hydrates. Meanwhile, the mortar with ACA showed an excellence absorption. CONCLUSIONS : Comparing with those of CSA-based mortars, the mechanical properties of ACA based-mortars were more remarkable. However, further studies regarding the durability of repair mortars using aluminate-based binders must be conducted to obtain the optimal mixture.

Various types of solidifying materials are used to stabilize and solidify low and intermediatelevel radioactive dispersible waste. Portland cement is generally used to solidify various radioactive wastes because its facilities and processes are simple, less dangerous, and it has excellent compressive strength after curing compared to other materials. However, it is difficult to use Portland cement in radioactive waste containing highly water-soluble harmful substances such as sodium fluoride because it is prone to leaching harmful ingredients in immersion tests due to its low water resistance. In this study, solidification was achieved using an organic-inorganic hybrid solidifying binders consisting of inorganic binders such as Portland cement, blast furnace slag powder, silica fume, and organic binders such as epoxy resin. This material was then compared with a solidification material made of Portland cement alone. The mixing ratio of inorganic binders, water, and organic binders to simulated waste is 35%, 20%, and 25%, respectively. The mixing ratio of inorganic binders and water when using only Portland cement for simulated waste is 100% and 80%, respectively. The mixed paste was poured into a cylinder mold (Φ 5 × 10 cm) to seal the upper part, cured at room temperature for 28 days to produce a solidification specimen, and then subjected to various tests were performed, including compressive strength, immersion compressive strength, hydration peak temperature, length change, and immersion weight change. The compressive strength of the organic-inorganic hybrid solidification test was 13-17 MPa, the immersion compressive strength was 15-18 MPa, the hydration peak temperature was 33-36°C, the length change rate was -0.086%, and the immersion weight change rate was –2.359%. The compressive strength of the Inorganic solidification test using only Portland cement was 16-18 MPa, the immersion compressive strength was 20-21 MPa, the hydration peak temperature was 23-25°C, the length change rate was -0.150%, and the immersion weight change rate was -5.213%. The compressive strength and immersion compressive strength of the organic-inorganic hybrid solidification materials were slightly lower compared to those of Portland cement solidification materials, they still met the compressive strength standard of 7-12 MPa, taking into consideration the strength reduce and economic feasibility of the core drill process. Furthermore, it indicates that the rates of change in length and immersion weight decreased to about 1% and 5%, suggesting an improvement in water resistance. The above results suggest that applying the organic-inorganic hybrid solidification method to radioactive waste treatment can effectively improve water resistance and help secure long-term stability.

PURPOSES : This study aims to determine whether machine learning techniques based on the results of chemical analysis experiments can be rationally applied to evaluate the aging of various asphalt binders used throughout the country. METHODS : We conducted chemical experiments such as FT-IR, H-NMR, C- NMR, and GPC for the three-stage aging levels of eight types of asphalt binders used in the country and utilized two artificial neural network models to determine valid chemical experimentation and conditions for the use of neural modeling through predictions. RESULTS : The M-prop model, which combined the findings from each neural network model into a single artificial neural network model, demonstrated superior predictive performance compared with the M-base model, which assessed aging using two cluster layers. In addition, the minimum amount of data required to achieve 100% predictive accuracy for the target asphalt binders, regardless of the artificial neural network model, was 18, and the amount of training data decreased to less than 50%. CONCLUSIONS : The predictive accuracy of the aging of asphalt binders was significantly enhanced when GPC data was used, indicating that GPC should be prioritized in evaluating the aging of asphalt binders.

PURPOSES : In this study, we aimed to evaluate the transition temperature (Tt) of asphalt binders using molecular dynamics simulations, which can provide a more accurate assessment of the mechanical properties of a material at the molecular level and can be applied to material development and design. METHODS : Unlike conventional macro- or meso-level simulations, we utilized MD simulations to evaluate the Tg of asphalt binders based on material composition and aging degree as input variables. In this analysis, 11 temperatures ranging from 434 K to 233 K at 20 K intervals were utilized, and the bulk volume and density were calculated through MD simulations. RESULTS : The MD simulation successfully predicted the Tg of the asphalt binder, and the molecular-level properties and interactions determined in this study can be applied not only to material development but also to the determination of constitutive equations or contact models used in continuum mechanics or discrete element methods. The calculated Tg was slightly different depending on the aging of the asphalt binder; however, it was found to accurately reflect the transitional characteristics. CONCLUSIONS : This study demonstrated the potential of MD simulations as valuable tools for material development and design in the construction industry. The results indicate that the use of MD simulations can lead to more accurate and efficient material development and design by providing a more detailed understanding of material properties and interactions at the molecular level.

PURPOSES : The process of extracting and recovering an asphalt binder from an asphalt mixture is harmful to the human body and can affect the properties of the asphalt binder owing to the presence of residual solvent quantities. This study was conducted to determine the properties of aged asphalt binders based on rejuvenator content without extracting and recovering the asphalt binders using RAP mortar. METHODS : After extracting and recovering aged binders from waste asphalt, a rejuvenator was added at a certain rate to evaluate the physical and rheological properties of the binder based on the added amount. RESULTS : When the rejuvenator content was greater than necessary, the absolute viscosity was not properly measured owing to the behavior of the rejuvenator. The phase angle was measured to be almost 90°, thus indicating that it acted as a liquid . In addition, the shear strain and nonrecovery compliance also increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS : If an excess rejuvenator quantity was added to the aged binder, the absolute viscosity was not properly measured, the phase angle was measured to be almost 90°, and the shear strain increased significantly. It is also necessary to conduct the same tests on different types of RAPs to ensure that the results of this study are reasonable.

PURPOSES : This study was conducted to compare and evaluate the compaction performance and physical properties of recycled asphalt mixtures by utilizing the characteristics of hot-mix asphalt mixtures and foamed asphalt. METHODS : A wearing-course mixture was used for performance evaluations. Subsequently, dynamic shear rheometry (DSR), compaction performance, general physical properties, tensile strength ratio, and Hamburg wheel tracking were tested. RESULTS : As a result of performance comparisons, compaction, and general physical properties satisfied the quality standards. In the Hamburg wheel tracking test, the mixture with the antistripping agent improved performance by approximately 40% compared with the general mixture. As the foamed asphalt binder was produced at a relatively low temperature compared with the general hot-mix asphalt binder, the penetration, viscosity, and DSR test results of the aged foamed asphalt binder showed that the aging of the asphalt binder was suppressed, and the flexibility increased. Therefore, the resistance to fatigue cracks is expected to be enhanced. CONCLUSIONS : Even though the foamed warm-mix recycled asphalt mixture was produced at a temperature that was 20~30°C lower than the hot-mix asphalt mixture, its physical properties were similar to those of the hot-mix asphalt mixture; its use is expected to reduce the production of fuel and air pollutants.

The green body of WC-Co cemented carbides containing polymeric binders such as paraffin, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyvinyl acetate (PVA) are prepared. The green density of the WC-Co cemented carbides increases with the addition of binders, with the exception of PVA, which is known to be a polar polymeric substance. The green strength of the WC-Co cemented carbides improves with the addition of paraffin and a mixture of PEG400 and PEG4000. In contrast, the green strength of the WC-Co does not increase when PEG400 and PEG4000 is added individually. The compressive strength of the green body increases to 14 MPa, and the machinability of the green body improves when more than 4–6 wt% paraffin and a mixture of PEG400 and PEG4000 is used. Simultaneously, the sintered density of WC-Co is as high as 99% relative density, similar to a low binder addition of 1–2 wt%.

PURPOSES : This study was conducted to evaluate the physical properties of micro-foamed asphalt binders. Surfactants and water-soluble anti-stripping agent were used to improve the performance of the foamed asphalt binder, and a domestically developed foamed asphalt generator was used for the micro-foamed asphalt binder. The results of this study can be used as technical data for the domestic application of foamed asphalt technology. METHODS : To evaluate the physical properties of the micro-foamed asphalt binder, basic properties such as penetration, viscosity, softening point, and ductility were evaluated. Additionally, DSR and BBR tests were performed to confirm the change in the performance grade of the micro-formed asphalt binder when using surfactants, water-soluble anti-stripping agent, and water. RESULTS : Of the results of evaluating the physical properties of the micro-foamed asphalt binder containing surfactant confirmed that the kinematic viscosity was reduced by 12.5% compared with the straight asphalt binder, which indirectly confirmed that compaction is possible even at low temperatures when producing the asphalt mixture. In addition, the PG grade of straight asphalt and micro-foamed asphalt binder was PG 64-22. This result indicates that surfactants, water-soluble anti-stripping agent, and water did not significantly affect the PG grade of the asphalt binder. CONCLUSIONS : The properties of the micro-foamed asphalt binder were confirmed through the evaluation of the physical and rheological properties of the foamed asphalt binder to which the surfactant and water-soluble anti-stripping agent were applied, and we determined that it can be used as a technical material for the revitalization of Korean foamed asphalt technology.

PURPOSES : This study evaluates the mechanical properties of high-viscosity polymer-modified asphalt binders using PG and MSCR tests. METHODS : Using the Superpave asphalt binder performance grade (PG) and multi-stress creep recovery (MSCR) test methods, the linear (dynamic shear modulus, stiffness, and viscosity) and non-linear properties — i.e., non-recoverable compliance (Jnr) and recoverable shear strain % recovery — of 16 different types (SBS, SIS, PE, PP) of polymer-modified asphalt binders were assessed. RESULTS : Based on the viscosity testing results. Most PG 82 binders did not meet the criterion of 3 Pa ·s. This indicates that they need to increase the mixing and compaction temperatures to reduce the high viscosity. The MSCR % Jnr results demonstrated that PG 76, PG 82–22, and PG 82-28/34 binders were below 1.0, 0.5, and 0.2, respectively. In addition, the MSCR % recovery results showed that PG 76, PG82-22, and PG82-28/34 were above 35 %, 55 %, and 80 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS : It was found that the % Jnr decreased with an increase in the high-temperature PG of the asphalt binder, whereas the % recovery increased as the low-temperature PG of the binder increased.

This study investigates the physicochemical and sensory properties of the soy-based patties using κ-carrageenan (CG) and methyl-cellulose (MC) as binders. Soy-based patties were prepared using 0%-2% of κ-carrageenan and methyl-cellulose in proportion, and the quality change of soy-based patties was measured by storing them at 4oC for 4 weeks. During the storage periods, the water holding capacity of ‘MC 1.5%+CG 0.5%’ showed high values. As the MC content increased, the weight loss and cooking loss tended to decrease, and both values increased significantly during the storage period. As the MC content increased, the lightness and redness tended to decreased. The hardness and chewiness of soy-based patties tended to increase as the MC content increased. During the storage period, the total aerobic bacteria and the coliforms tended to increase. The VBN content was showed 14.6-17.5 mg%/100g in first week, since then, the VBN content has continued to increase. As a result of sensory evaluation, the springiness, taste and overall acceptability of soy-based patties with ‘MC 1.5%+CG 0.5%’ and ‘MC 2.0%’ showed the highest value.

PURPOSES : In this experimental study, the resistance of blended cement concrete containing air-cooled slag (AS) and water-cooled slag (WS) to freeze–thaw action was investigated. For comparison, the durable performance of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete exposed to a similar damage environment was also evaluated. METHODS : Based on the ASTM C 666 standard, the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity, mass ratio, surface electric resistivity, and compressive strength of blended cement concrete specimens were periodically measured and compared with those of OPC concrete to evaluate the durability of concrete exposed to the freezing-thawing environment. In addition, microstructural characteristics of deteriorated concrete parts were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques to detect products formed by freeze–thaw action. RESULTS : It was found that the resistance of blended cement concrete containing AS and WS to freeze–thaw action was significantly better than that of OPC concrete. Furthermore, the SEM results revealed the frost damage of OPC concrete, owing to the formation of thaumasite. CONCLUSIONS : The application of AS in concrete can effectively improve the durability of concrete, particularly in freeze–thaw environments.

PURPOSES : The use of hydrated lime or other liquid anti-stripping agents (ASA) is the most common method of improving the moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixes. ASAs are also known to have an anti-aging effect, according to several researchers. Therefore, the use of ASAs is expected to enhance the stability of asphalt pavements. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-aging effect of ASAs that are found in the domestic market. METHODS : In this study, an asphalt binder and a mixture mixed with typical domestic solid and liquid ASAs were prepared and aged to evaluate the physicochemical changes. A liquid additive developed by a Korean oil refinery was used as the liquid ASA, and hydrated lime was utilized as the solid ASA. The aging process of the asphalt was determined in the laboratroy based on previous studies to simulate the aging process inh te field. RESULTS : The result of the laboratory experiment indicates that both the solid and liquid ASAs have an anti-aging effect. Moreover, the liquid additive performed relatively better than the hydrated lime. CONCLUSIONS : If ASAs have an anti-aging effect in addition to the anti-stripping function, it is expected to improve the stability of the asphalt pavement significantly. However, few studies have been carried out on the anti-aging effect of ASAs found in the domestic market. In this study, we conducted a fundamental study on the anti-aging effect to help in the selection and use of ASAs in the domestic asphalt-paving industry.

SAFCs are recently being highlighted to overcome the disadvantages of AFCs. According to the recent works, alkaline doped PBI membranes exhibited good ionic conductivity, acceptable mechanical strength and high thermal stability. Suitable ionomer binder solutions for SAFCs were necessary. In this study, QPBIs having quaternized intermediate MGMC in the side group were synthesized for use as anion conducting ionomer binder. In addition, crosslinker was added in the catalyst slurry to improve the mechanical strength and chemical stability. The QPBIs were investigated in terms of FT-IR, NMR, ionic conductivity, KOH uptake etc. Moreover, MEAs prepared with different amounts of ionomer binder in electrodes were evaluated by CV and IV curve.

PURPOSES: The objective of this study is to investigate the properties of recycled asphalt binders with five different rejuvenators, in order to evaluate the applicability of the recycled asphalt binders compared with the original asphalt binder. METHODS: In order to simulate recycled asphalt binders, fresh asphalt binders are aged by various Superpave aging procedures, such as the rolling thin-film oven (RTFO) and the pressure aging vessel (PAV). Then, selected rejuvenators are added to the aged asphalt binders in the amount of 5%, 10%, and 15%. The asphalt binder properties are evaluated by the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), the rotational viscometer (RV), and the bending beam rheometer (BBR). In this study, AP-5 (penetration grade 60-80, PG 64-16) asphalt binder is used. A total of five types of rejuvenators are employed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS : When considering aged asphalt without a new asphalt binder, it seems that the percentage of rejuvenator used in Korea is a bit too low, and that it fails to possess the characteristics of the original binder. From the current practice of evaluating the properties of recycled binder based on penetration ratio only, the amount of rejuvenator required is similar for the long-term-aged binder, but is excessive for the longest-term aged binder, causing deterioration of workability and stiffness of the recycled binder.

Perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomers have been widely used for renewable energy generation, including polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), owing to their excellent resistance to harsh chemicals and good ion-transport properties. PFSA materials experience critical chemical decomposition to radical attacks, and fast hydrogen crossover leading to fairly reduced electrochemical performances, when they are used as membrane materials. Similar chemical degradation also occurs in PEFC electrodes containing PFSA ionomer binders used as both mechanical supporters and proton conductors and shortens PEFC lifetime. In this study, several approaches based on their morphological rearrangement to overcome these economical and technical issues are proposed. They include pore-filling membrane formation, nanodispersion, and their combination.

PURPOSES: The study objective was to evaluate rheology and physical properties of SBS-modified warm-mix asphalt (WMA) binders in comparison with hot-mix asphalt (HMA) binders. METHODS : Four different SBS polymers were used to prepare polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) binders, and three different warm-mix additives (WAD) were used to prepare a total of 12 WMA PMA binders. The kinematic viscosity was measured at 115, 135℃. The PG was determined using DSR and BBR. The pass/fail (P/F) temperatures for high and low PG grading were evaluated for HMA PMA and WMA PMA binders. RESULTS: PG 76-22 binders could be prepared by modifying the base binder (PG 64-22) using 4.5 wt% of SBS. The kinematic viscosity (KV) of SBS PMA was increased by 3 times higher than that of base asphalt. The SBS PMA with WAD showed 10% lower KV than that of the normal SBS PMA at 115℃ The high P/F temperatures showed almost no difference between HMA PMA and WMA PMA binders. The high P/F temperature showed very high correlations with KV (R2 > 0.97). The result of SBS modification caused increase of low P/F temperature by 2.7℃ on average. CONCLUSIONS : Since the PMA with WAD showed 10% lower KV than normal (HMA) PMA at 115℃, reducing PMA mixture temperature down to a WMA level was possible in this study. The higher KV binders showed the higher P/F temperature. There was almost no change in high P/F temperature due to the use of WAD. The SBS PMA, showing an increased low P/F temperature, might show somewhat poorer performance at low-temperature, even though the lower PG grade was staying at the same level, i.e., -22℃.

PURPOSES : This study is to develop a method to evaluate lubrication of asphalt binder using WMA additives and compare their lubrication effects on two types of WMA additives and three types of asphalt film thicknesses. METHODS : This study is based on laboratory experiments and rheological analysis of the experimental results. Testing materials are aggregate diskes, asphalt, and WMA additives. The main testing method is stress sweep test by using dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). RESULTS : Sasobit gives more lubrication effects on film thicknesses 0.2mm and under but LEADCAP does on film thicknesses over 0.3mm. CONCLUSIONS : LVE-Limit is a better parameter to discern the lubrication effects on the thin film asphalt thickness. Both Sasobit and LEADCAP WMA additives provide effective lubrication at the compaction temperature.