Improving chip seal performance

By Dwight Walker

Chip seals are one of the most commonly used pavement preservation
techniques. Sometimes also called seal coats or surface treatments, chip
seals are an asphalt binder sprayed on a prepared pavement surface,
followed immediately by an application of aggregate (chips). Rolling then
seats the chips in the binder. After curing, the surface is broomed to remove
any loose aggregate.

Chip seals are used in a variety of applications, including single chip seals,
double chip seals, cape seals, and stress absorbing membrane interlayers
(SAMI).

Chip seal basics

Different types of binders can be used in a chip seal. The binder may be cold
or hot applied. Cold applied binders include modified and unmodified
medium and rapid setting emulsions. Hot applied binders can be polymer-
modified asphalt cements, asphalt rubber and polymer/crumb rubber blends,
as well as unmodified asphalt cements. The appropriate binder type is
selected based on pavement condition, climate, aggregate properties,
desired service life and cost considerations.

A chip seal is designed to seal and protect a pavement from oxidation and
weathering by sealing the small cracks in a pavement surface and
preventing the intrusion of water and air. A chip seal can also be used to
address raveling (loss of aggregate), correct bleeding and flushing problems,
improve skid resistance, and generally extend the pavement life. Chip seals
are not suited for all pavements; the existing structure should be sound with
only minor surface defects. They are not appropriate for rutted, potholed, or
severely distressed surfaces.

For preservation purposes, chip seals should be applied to pavements that

are in relatively good condition with no structural damage. Once structural
damage has occurred, preventive maintenance treatments are no longer
applicable and more involved corrective strategies are required. Thus,
project selection is a critical factor in the success of chip seals as a
preservation technique.

When a chip seal is applied to a pavement in good condition, six to eight

additional years of service is a typical expectation. For more distressed
pavements, less service extension can be expected (four to six years on
pavements in fair condition and three to four years for poor pavements).

Historical approach

Many agencies rely on experience and judgment rather than engineering for
the design and construction of chip seals, considering these procedures to be
an art, rather than science. NCHRP Synthesis 342, Chip Seal Best
Practices, concluded that the experience of highway agency personnel
appears to be the major factor for achieving chip seal success.

With this approach, the use of best practices is critical. The following
considerations are important.

Weather conditions during construction have a direct influence on

performance. The weather should be warm and dry to promote proper
binder setting and curing. Monitor the weather forecast to avoid potential
weather problems and avoid possible chip loss.

Before beginning the sealing work, prepare and clean the existing surface.
Fill any potholes, level the ruts and seal large cracks.

Traffic control is important. The traffic speed should be reduced/controlled

until the binder sets, the rolling has been completed and the first brooming
has occurred. Take particular care to avoid scuffing and hard braking on the
new surface.

Application rates must be selected to fit site conditions. Proper binder and
aggregate application rates result in durable, long-lasting chip seals. The
binder rate should be adjusted if the existing surface is absorbent,
weathered or flushed and should take into consideration the traffic count.
Too little binder can result in aggregate loss; too much binder can result in
bleeding. The aggregate chips should be embedded in the binder to about 50
to 70 percent of their thickness after rolling and traffic has completely fully
seated the aggregate particles. The chip spread rate should result in one
stone deep, uniformly covering the existing surface without excess
aggregate. Too little aggregate leads to insufficient cover and asphalt
tracking. Too much aggregate is a waste of money and the extra chips can
cause aggregate to be dislodged.

The condition of the aggregate chips is important. Clean aggregate is

necessary; the liquid will not adhere to aggregate that is too dusty or too
wet. The chips should be crushed and durable to provide a long lasting chip
seal. The chip spreader should follow the binder distributor as closely as
possible. The chips should be spread on the binder immediately after it is
applied. The rolling procedure is critical to embed the chips in the liquid and
promote good bonding. The chips should be rolled immediately after
spreading with a pneumatic tire roller.

A properly adjusted distributor spray bar is critical to a uniform application.

Adjust the spray bar height and the nozzle sizes and angles to assure a
uniform distribution. Fat streaks and bleeding can develop when the binder
is applied too heavily. The chips can be lost in the lean areas.

Light brooming with minimum downward pressure is necessary to remove

loose aggregate without dislodging or rolling embedded chips. Timing is
important. If the sweeping operation starts before the binder sets, it will tear
away the cover aggregate.

Engineered approach

Because of the importance of chip seals as a preservation technique, a great

deal of work has been done recently to move to a more engineered,
technical approach. Advancements have been made in materials, design and
testing procedures and application equipment. Materials improvements
include the use of polymer modified emulsions, tighter specifications on the
use of one-size chips, using fibers, crumb rubber additives, etc.
Computerized equipment has been developed that makes placing a uniform
application of materials easier and allows for simpler adjustments in
progress.

Additionally, significant research has been done. One effort, led by Dr. Scott
Shuler of Colorado State University, has resulted in several
recommendations and potential advancements. This work was done under
NCHRP Project 14-17 and is reported in NCHRP Report 680, Manual for
Emulsion-Based Chip Seals for Pavement Preservation.

Five products to improve design and construction of chip seals were

identified in this research. These were:

Modified sweep test and critical moisture contents A lab test simulating
rotary sweeping was developed. The test determines the timing for
brooming and opening to traffic by monitoring the moisture content which
corresponds to adhesion needed for chip retention.

Field consistency test This test uses a Wagner cup viscometer, a device
used to measure the consistency of paints, to measure the consistency of
emulsions.

Pavement texture A correlation was developed between the sand patch

test and the CT (circular texture) meter. The resulting texture measurement
can be used to adjust emulsion spray rates during construction.

Residue recovery and desirable properties The Stirred Can Emulsion

Residue Recovery (SCERR) method is recommended for obtaining residue for
measuring physical properties of the emulsion.

Measuring aggregate embedment in the field Two methods of chip

embedment were developed. The constant volume is simple to perform but
loses accuracy at more than 50 percent embedment. The constant diameter
method can be used to estimate embedment up to 80 percent.

Additionally, five standardized testing procedures were drafted for

consideration and recommendations were offered for additional study.

Conclusion

Traditionally, chip seals have provided a quick, reliable and economical

surface treatment that seals out water, improves rideability and preserves a
pavement for years. Recent technological advancements in testing and
design procedures, materials and equipment have significantly reduced the
dependence on experience and judgment associated with chip seals of the
past. Todays chip seal can be reliably placed on a variety of pavements
under a wide variety of conditions.