Department
Chemistry
Major
Chemical Engineering
Research Advisor
Woelk, Klaus
Advisor's Department
Chemistry
Funding Source
Chemistry Department
Abstract
Asphalt deterioration involves many physical and chemical changes caused by environmental factors such as automotive strain, extreme heat, and UV exposure. Asphalt binder assessment in the industry is currently based on structurally destructive testing methods and tests of physical performance without accounting for chemical structure. An emerging evaluation of asphalt binder uses relaxometry, a field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, to directly observe how asphalt binder is changed by causes of deterioration such as UV exposure. NMR relaxometry explores nuclear spins' interactions with their environment. This noninvasive method can provide a detailed view into the chemical environment of virgin and aged asphalt binder to observe effects of aging without damage to either the sample or collection site. This research experiment will use NMR relaxometry to observe the effects of UV and extreme temperatures on asphalt quality before aging can be detected by current industry methods, and before physical signs or failures are apparent.
Biography
Rosalee Brown is a sophomore student at MST from Saint Louis, Missouri, studying chemical engineering with an emphasis in biochemistry. She has been conducting research with the Chemistry department since January 2023. Alongside this, she is an active participant in her campus community. She is a member of ASDC, a founding member of MWG, and an officer of DOL
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Document Type
Presentation
Award
Sciences Oral Session - First Place
Location
Havener Center - Carver Room
Presentation Date
10 April 2024, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Quantifying Asphalt Binder UV Effects with Relaxometry
Havener Center - Carver Room
Asphalt deterioration involves many physical and chemical changes caused by environmental factors such as automotive strain, extreme heat, and UV exposure. Asphalt binder assessment in the industry is currently based on structurally destructive testing methods and tests of physical performance without accounting for chemical structure. An emerging evaluation of asphalt binder uses relaxometry, a field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, to directly observe how asphalt binder is changed by causes of deterioration such as UV exposure. NMR relaxometry explores nuclear spins' interactions with their environment. This noninvasive method can provide a detailed view into the chemical environment of virgin and aged asphalt binder to observe effects of aging without damage to either the sample or collection site. This research experiment will use NMR relaxometry to observe the effects of UV and extreme temperatures on asphalt quality before aging can be detected by current industry methods, and before physical signs or failures are apparent.
