Cold weather, ice, and road salt can cause significant damage to asphalt pavement, resulting in potholes, cracks, and frequent repairs due to poor bonding between the stone fragments (aggregate) that comprise most of the pavement and the asphalt binder that holds everything together. Water can easily seep into this weak interface, especially in winter, worsening road damage and increasing maintenance costs. 

To address these challenges, this Catalyst-funded research team developed and successfully tested a coating designed to strengthen the bond between binder and aggregate and improve moisture resistance. Their approach aims to address widespread infrastructure deterioration and has broad economic, environmental, and public safety implications. In Michigan, over 33% of roads are already in poor condition—and that number is projected to rise to 48% by 2034.

The team drew their inspiration from the natural world; specifically, mussels, known for their ability to cling to wet, salty surfaces. This team worked in consultation with the Dickinson County Road Commission to develop a synthetic coating that mimics this natural adhesion strategy. Close collaboration with the Dickinson County Road Commission helped align the research with real-world needs, and a site visit to an asphalt plant in Bay City offered valuable insight into commercial production practices.

To test their innovation, they created a lab-scale model using commercially viable materials and thermal treatment. They developed a new lab method to measure the coating’s performance under harsh conditions, offering a new, standardized way to test asphalt durability on a small scale. 

The project has supported a new interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting fundamental science with engineering practice. One undergraduate student was inspired to pursue a PhD, while a graduate student will incorporate the work into their thesis. A patent may also be pursued as development continues.

Overall, this process has the potential to increase road resiliency, reduce waste and energy consumption associated with repairs, as well as pollution from asphalt processing. Prolonging the lifespan of roads will also save money and allow funds to be directed toward other essential infrastructure and community needs.

Project team: Jinsang Kim, PI (Materials Science and Engineering); Zhan Chen (Chemistry); Zhanping You (Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering, Michigan Technological University)

This project team received a $10,000 Catalyst Grant in 2024.

Publications

• Sequential Self-Polymerization of Phenolic Compounds with Alkanedithiol Linkers as a Surface-Independent and Solvent-Resistant Surface Functionalization Strategy (Advanced Materials Interfaces | October 2024)