ABSTRACT
Cracking is one of the main diseases of asphalt pavement. Sealant debonding and low service life are major problems of crack sealings at present. In order to avoid these problems, a two-way shape memory liquid crystal elastomer (SMLCE) is developed to as a sealant for pavement crack repair. Firstly, two-way SMLCE has excellent two-way shape memory properties, which can contract with heat and expand with cold. The two-way SMLCE can realize multiple two-way shape memory deformation without deformation loss. The temperature range in which two-way shape memory deformation occurs is well matched to the field ambient temperature to which the crack sealant is subjected. Secondly, the two-way SMLCE can reach a low temperature tensile strength of around 20MPa and a tensile deformation of around 150% without fracture damage. The SMLCE has a good low temperature tensile strength and low temperature deformation capacity, which makes it more applicable as a pavement crack sealant. The simple preparation process of the developed SMLCE and the industrial production of the raw material have greatly facilitated the industrial production and promotion of the product in the field of pavement crack repair. This research provides a new way to repair asphalt pavement cracks.
