Interaction between Icelandic basalt and Swedish granite with Swedish bitumen emulsion : Is it possible to use Swedish bitumen emulsion in Iceland?

• Main Author: Úlfarsdóttir, Björk
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: KTH, Skolan för kemi, bioteknologi och hälsa (CBH) 2018
• Subjects: Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; Other Chemistry Topics; Annan kemi; Iceland
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-229690

Like in any modern civilization, roads in Iceland have an important role in thedaily lives of inhabitants. Consequently, road quality is of equal importance, butIcelandic roads have shown problems when surface dressing is used where itlooks decent after being paved during summer but then deforming pretty rapidlyafter being hit by elements of winter. Roads in Sweden however, do not seem tohave the same problem.The aim of this study is to minimize this road deformation by examining surfacedressing and aggregates. The Icelandic climate is also a factor to this problemsince the humidity is comparatively high, summers are cool, winters are mild andthe climate is overall challenging. Furthermore, winter thaws are distinctivecharacteristic of the Icelandic weather, which increases strain on the asphalt.An experiment was conducted where the adhesion of surface dressing that iscommon in Sweden was tested with two different aggregates by Vialit plateshock test method. First it was tested with Swedish granite and then withIcelandic basalt. The results from the aggregates were compared where theadhesion with the granite was stronger than with the basalt.Previous study have found that by choosing binder and aggregate that have highadhesivity at low temperature reduces the risk of surface dressing defects,especially when paving takes place in the early and late summer season. Whenchoosing aggregates for road construction the main criteria is cost, thereforeaggregates that are used usually reflect the local geology because transportingaggregates for significant distances is expensive. Concluding from theexperiment, it is not recommended to use the basalt with the Swedish surfacedressing in practice now due to the lesser adhesion compared to the granite.However further research on the asphalt mix with the Swedish surface dressingand the basalt should be conducted.