Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Simulations Investigating the Flexibility and Compatibility of Epoxidized Soybean Oil–Reinforced Epoxy Asphalt
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 10
Abstract
Epoxy asphalt has attracted widespread attention for its excellent high-temperature stability and fatigue resistance. However, the poor flexibility and compatibility of epoxy asphalt limit its application. This study used epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) as a toughener and compatibilizer to modify epoxy asphalt, and the influence of ESO on the mechanical properties and compatibility of epoxy asphalt was analyzed. The results indicate that ESO’s unique aliphatic long-chain structure effectively enhances the flexibility of epoxy asphalt and improves its compatibility. The mechanical properties of epoxy asphalt are optimal when ESO content reaches 10%, and the tensile strength of 10%-ESO-EA was 2.65 MPa and the elongation at break was 183%, which was a 50% increase in elongation at break. In addition, ESO reduces the viscosity growth rate of epoxy asphalt, which is beneficial to construction. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the inclusion of ESO weakens intermolecular interactions, reducing the cohesive energy density of epoxy asphalt. With increasing ESO content, the proportion of flexible chain segments in epoxy asphalt rises, enhancing molecular chain mobility, decreasing intermolecular binding forces, and reducing the glass transition temperature () of epoxy asphalt.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The research was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (52178440 and 52278441), Chongqing Graduate Research Innovation Project (CYS23472), and Open Fund Project of National Mountain Highway Engineering Technology Research Center. The views in the paper only reflect those from the authors and may not necessarily the views from the sponsors.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 10 • October 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 16, 2023
Accepted: Mar 1, 2024
Published online: Jul 26, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Dec 26, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Agriculture
- Crops
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Engineering mechanics
- Epoxy
- Irrigation engineering
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials engineering
- Measurement (by type)
- Mechanical properties
- Polymer
- Strength of materials
- Synthetic materials
- Temperature (by type)
- Temperature effects
- Temperature measurement
- Tensile strength
- Thermal properties
- Thermodynamics
- Water and water resources
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