A review of chemo-rheological and thermo-rheological investigations on epoxy asphalt cementitious materials

Epoxy asphalt cementitious material is a reactive multi-component and multi-phase chemically-modified binder. It bonds the aggregates together by utilizing polyaddition and homopolymerization reactions between epoxy resins and their curing agents, obtaining epoxy asphalt concrete with excellent service performances, which has been universally used in the construction of the demands-rigorous orthotropic steel deck bridges. In this review, the formation of microstructure networks was presented to help designing the formulation and forecasting their final thermo-rheological properties. And the control principle of gel point of epoxies curing reactions that dominates the epoxy asphalt binder recipes were considered, followed by a discussion on their curing agents' formulating methods and their curing mechanism. Then, the chemo-rheological, mechanical, and thermo-rheological properties before and after the curing of epoxy asphalt binders were thoroughly examined as a scientific guidance for the application process of epoxy asphalt binders, respectively. And finally, potential future research fields are highlighted. This review attempts to understand the epoxy asphalt binders from the viewpoint of formulation and their rheology, aiming to support the further development and application of epoxy asphalt in academic research and industry practices.