Enhancement of the interface bonding between asphalt binder and aggregate using polyurethane prepolymer as a chemical modifier

Gaoyang Li; Yanhua Wang; Hailong Liu; Rui Li; Guoyang Lu; Ruiqi Chen; Zhen Leng

doi:10.1080/10298436.2025.2507804

Enhancement of the interface bonding between asphalt binder and aggregate using polyurethane prepolymer as a chemical modifier

Gaoyang Li, Yanhua Wang, Hailong Liu, Rui Li, Guoyang Lu, Ruiqi Chen, Zhen Leng^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The adhesion between asphalt binder and aggregate is crucial for asphalt mixture performance. Although physical adsorption improvements by using various modifiers have been extensively studied, limited research focuses on introducing chemical bonds at the asphalt-aggregate interface. This study investigates the effects of polyurethane prepolymer (PUP) as a reactive modifier to enhance adhesive properties between asphalt binder and aggregate. Frequency sweep, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) tests were used to investigate interactions between PUP and aggregate. Boiling and pull-off tests further assessed the adhesive properties of PUP-modified binder (PUMB). Additionally, immersion, Marshall stability and freeze–thaw splitting tests examined the effect of PUP on the moisture susceptibility of the asphalt mixture. Results demonstrated that the isocyanate groups in PUP chemically react with hydroxyl groups at the aggregate surface, forming chemical bonds that enhance adhesive strength between the asphalt binder and aggregate. As a result, the incorporation of PUP significantly improves the moisture damage resistance of the asphalt mixture. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Original language	English
Article number	2507804
Journal	International Journal of Pavement Engineering
Volume	26
Issue number	1
Online published	23 May 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2025.2507804
Publication status	Published - 2025

Funding

The work described in this paper was substantially supported by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region China Polytechnic University Special Administrative Region China under Grant (No. 15221921), as well as the financial support from China Road and Bridge Corporation through the project titled Steel Bridge Deck Paving Material Based on Toughened Polyurethane Modified Asphalt, and the PolyU research project titled Development of Sustainable Pavement Materials and Technologies (R-ZDCS).

Research Keywords

adhesion property
chemical characterisation
modification mechanism
moisture susceptibility
Polyurethane prepolymer

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

Access Output

10.1080/10298436.2025.2507804

Other Access Options

Check CityUHK Library

Permanent Link

Right click to copy link

Cite this

@article{0a41e04aaafb4cc5968f8a2b3d349ed7,

title = "Enhancement of the interface bonding between asphalt binder and aggregate using polyurethane prepolymer as a chemical modifier",

abstract = "The adhesion between asphalt binder and aggregate is crucial for asphalt mixture performance. Although physical adsorption improvements by using various modifiers have been extensively studied, limited research focuses on introducing chemical bonds at the asphalt-aggregate interface. This study investigates the effects of polyurethane prepolymer (PUP) as a reactive modifier to enhance adhesive properties between asphalt binder and aggregate. Frequency sweep, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) tests were used to investigate interactions between PUP and aggregate. Boiling and pull-off tests further assessed the adhesive properties of PUP-modified binder (PUMB). Additionally, immersion, Marshall stability and freeze–thaw splitting tests examined the effect of PUP on the moisture susceptibility of the asphalt mixture. Results demonstrated that the isocyanate groups in PUP chemically react with hydroxyl groups at the aggregate surface, forming chemical bonds that enhance adhesive strength between the asphalt binder and aggregate. As a result, the incorporation of PUP significantly improves the moisture damage resistance of the asphalt mixture. {\textcopyright} 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.",

keywords = "adhesion property, chemical characterisation, modification mechanism, moisture susceptibility, Polyurethane prepolymer",

author = "Gaoyang Li and Yanhua Wang and Hailong Liu and Rui Li and Guoyang Lu and Ruiqi Chen and Zhen Leng",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1080/10298436.2025.2507804",

language = "English",

volume = "26",

journal = "International Journal of Pavement Engineering",

issn = "1029-8436",

publisher = "Taylor & Francis",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Enhancement of the interface bonding between asphalt binder and aggregate using polyurethane prepolymer as a chemical modifier

AU - Li, Gaoyang

AU - Wang, Yanhua

AU - Liu, Hailong

AU - Li, Rui

AU - Lu, Guoyang

AU - Chen, Ruiqi

AU - Leng, Zhen

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - The adhesion between asphalt binder and aggregate is crucial for asphalt mixture performance. Although physical adsorption improvements by using various modifiers have been extensively studied, limited research focuses on introducing chemical bonds at the asphalt-aggregate interface. This study investigates the effects of polyurethane prepolymer (PUP) as a reactive modifier to enhance adhesive properties between asphalt binder and aggregate. Frequency sweep, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) tests were used to investigate interactions between PUP and aggregate. Boiling and pull-off tests further assessed the adhesive properties of PUP-modified binder (PUMB). Additionally, immersion, Marshall stability and freeze–thaw splitting tests examined the effect of PUP on the moisture susceptibility of the asphalt mixture. Results demonstrated that the isocyanate groups in PUP chemically react with hydroxyl groups at the aggregate surface, forming chemical bonds that enhance adhesive strength between the asphalt binder and aggregate. As a result, the incorporation of PUP significantly improves the moisture damage resistance of the asphalt mixture. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

AB - The adhesion between asphalt binder and aggregate is crucial for asphalt mixture performance. Although physical adsorption improvements by using various modifiers have been extensively studied, limited research focuses on introducing chemical bonds at the asphalt-aggregate interface. This study investigates the effects of polyurethane prepolymer (PUP) as a reactive modifier to enhance adhesive properties between asphalt binder and aggregate. Frequency sweep, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) tests were used to investigate interactions between PUP and aggregate. Boiling and pull-off tests further assessed the adhesive properties of PUP-modified binder (PUMB). Additionally, immersion, Marshall stability and freeze–thaw splitting tests examined the effect of PUP on the moisture susceptibility of the asphalt mixture. Results demonstrated that the isocyanate groups in PUP chemically react with hydroxyl groups at the aggregate surface, forming chemical bonds that enhance adhesive strength between the asphalt binder and aggregate. As a result, the incorporation of PUP significantly improves the moisture damage resistance of the asphalt mixture. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

KW - adhesion property

KW - chemical characterisation

KW - modification mechanism

KW - moisture susceptibility

KW - Polyurethane prepolymer

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105005968038&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105005968038&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1080/10298436.2025.2507804

DO - 10.1080/10298436.2025.2507804

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1029-8436

VL - 26

JO - International Journal of Pavement Engineering

JF - International Journal of Pavement Engineering

IS - 1

M1 - 2507804

ER -

Enhancement of the interface bonding between asphalt binder and aggregate using polyurethane prepolymer as a chemical modifier

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

GRF: Multiscale Chemo-physico-mechanical Characterization on the Modification Mechanism of Polyurethane Modified Porous Asphalt towards Enhanced Moisture Damage Resistance

Cite this

Enhancement of the interface bonding between asphalt binder and aggregate using polyurethane prepolymer as a chemical modifier

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

GRF: Multiscale Chemo-physico-mechanical Characterization on the Modification Mechanism of Polyurethane Modified Porous Asphalt towards Enhanced Moisture Damage Resistance

Cite this