There is a demand and a need for cheaper and alternative surface coverings in environments
with high temperature fluctuations. Our design for an alternative surface covering involves a basic twopart
component epoxy with the addition of a solvent. The purpose of the solvent is to disrupt the
reaction that forms the ordered chains to form a more disordered crystalline structure. The solvent in
the finished product is 3% by volume of isopropyl alcohol. This mixture of epoxy and solvent has higher
impact strength than epoxy alone, as well as a much lower brittle transition temperature of 27°C
compared with 10°C for epoxy. An environmental chamber, tensile tester, Charpy impact tester, and 4-
point bending test were used to determine these conclusions. The final product can be tailored with
different aggregates to fit a specific need, such as decking surface material to coat the wooden planks
on the Yukon River Bridge.Table of Contents
Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................................. ii
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ iii
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ iv
Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... v
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Yukon River Bridge Project 2006 ......................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Yukon River Bridge 2011 ..................................................................................................................... 3
2. Scope of Work ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Part 1 ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Part 2 ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
3. Test Results and Data ................................................................................................................................ 4
Part I .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
3.1 Project Basis ........................................................................................................................................ 4
3.2 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 6
3.3 Results/Future Work ........................................................................................................................... 6
3.3.1 Charpy impact tests ..................................................................................................................... 6
3.3.2 Tensile tests ................................................................................................................................. 9
3.4 Chemical Theory ............................................................................................................................... 11
3.5 Facilities............................................................................................................................................. 14
3.6 Materials Tested ............................................................................................................................... 16
Part II: .......................................................................................................................................................... 18
3.7 Collecting Data .................................................................................................................................. 18
3.7.1 Determining percent isopropyl alcohol (Figure 19) ................................................................... 18
3.7.2 Determining the number of seal coatings (Figures 21–25) ....................................................... 19
3.7.3 Wear testing ............................................................................................................................... 24
3.7.4 Application process on test planks ............................................................................................ 25
3.7.5 Conclusion of information gathered from collecting data......................................................... 30
3.8 Modification Made to the Planks ...................................................................................................... 30
4 What Went Wrong in the Experiment ..................................................................................................... 30
5 What Could Be Changed, Future Modifications....................................................................................... 31
References .................................................................................................................................................. 32
Table of Figures
Figure 1: Yukon River Bridge. ........................................................................................................................ 1
Figure 2: ASTM standards. ............................................................................................................................ 5
Figure 3: Epoxy samples – temperature rise vs. impact strength. ................................................................ 7
Figure 4: Epoxy with kerosene samples – temperature rise vs. impact strength. ........................................ 8
Figure 5: Epoxy with isopropyl alcohol samples – temperature rise vs. impact strength. ........................... 8
Figure 6: Epoxy with isopropyl alcohol and sand samples – temperature rise vs. impact strength. ........... 9
Figure 7: Epoxy samples – extension vs. load. ............................................................................................ 10
Figure 8: Epoxy with isopropyl alcohol samples – extension vs. load. ....................................................... 10
Figure 9: Epoxy with acetone samples – extension vs. load. ...................................................................... 11
Figure 10: Basic structures in epoxy. .......................................................................................................... 11
Figure 11: First step of polymerization. ...................................................................................................... 12
Figure 12: Long chain epoxy molecule ........................................................................................................ 12
Figure 13: Epoxy mixed with acetone solvent ............................................................................................ 12
Figure 14: Alcohol and ketone reaction. ..................................................................................................... 13
Figure 15: Epoxy hydrogen bonding with isopropyl alcohol. ...................................................................... 13
Figure 16: Environmental chamber used to freeze the samples. ............................................................... 14
Figure 17: Instron tensile test apparatus. ................................................................................................... 15
Figure 18: Charpy ........................................................................................................................................ 15
Figure 19: Test samples 3–5%, 10%, 20% isopropyl alcohol. ...................................................................... 18
Figure 20: Resistance to moisture migration. ............................................................................................. 19
Figure 21: Test samples: no sealing, 1 sealing, 2 sealings, and 3 sealings submerged in water. ............... 21
Figure 22: (Weight/dry weight) vs. days boards soaked............................................................................. 22
Figure 23: (Weight/dry weight) vs. days boards soaked............................................................................. 22
Figure 24: Percent increase in weight vs. number of seal coatings. ........................................................... 23
Figure 25: Percent increase in weight vs. number of seal coatings. ........................................................... 24
Figure 26: Traction and wear test equipment. ........................................................................................... 25
Figure 27: Epoxy sample after the wear test. ............................................................................................. 25
Figure 28: Laying out bolt pattern. ............................................................................................................. 26
Figure 29: Drilling countersunk holes. ........................................................................................................ 24
Figure 30: Completed board though application process. ......................................................................... 26
Figure 31: Bur on PVC pipe ......................................................................................................................... 27
Figure 33: Planks drying after sealing ......................................................................................................... 27
Figure 34. Plank preparation before aggregate application. ...................................................................... 28
Figure 35: Planks drying. ............................................................................................................................. 29
Figure 36: Removing tape and cotton balls. ............................................................................................... 29
Figure 37: Chip in plank ............................................................................................................................... 29
Figure 38: Chip patched .............................................................................................................................. 29
Figure 39: Additional chip patched ............................................................................................................. 3
