Materials And Techniques For Improving the Engineering Properties Of Sulfur

DOT-FH-11-9111
Asphalt and Portland cement are the principal binders used in the preparation of pavements. The costs of these materials are directly related to energy and are expected to increase. The availability of asphalt in the future in the event of an oil embargo or other crisis is questionable. Native as well as by-product sources of sulfur in the United States are large and are expected to increase in the future. Sulfur in its elemental form is not ideally suited for use as a pavement binder because of its brittle and friable nature. This program was under-taken to determine if elemental sulfur could be inexpensively modified so it could be used as a pavement binder. As a result of this work, a new pavement binder system, based on elemental sulfur, has been developed that can serve as a replacement for asphalt and Portland cement. This material can be emulsified with water and used like asphalt emulsions.