Evaluation of the Overlay Tester for Adhesion Testing of Crack Sealants (0-5457-S)

This project summary report summarizes the research performed in Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Project 0-5457. This study developed a simple, fast, and performance-related test to assist TxDOT with sealant evaluation and selection. It also developed draft specifications to quickly evaluate the adhesion properties of crack sealants in the laboratory. The proposed test equipment - an overlay tester-based crack sealant adhesion tester - and the draft test protocol for specimen preparation, test conditioning, and data interpretation proved to be effective in distinguishing poor adhesion sealants from good ones. The draft crack sealant special specification developed in this study is performance based, primarily on the performance of the crack sealant adhesion test. It also considers factors such as flash point, softening point, and viscosity.