Reasons for Reduced Moisture Resistance of Sulfur-Extended Asphalt Concrete

The paper presents the results of a study of the mechanism for reducing the moisture resistance of sulfur-extended asphalt concrete. It is shown that a decrease in moisture resistance occurs due to the occurrence of chemical and physical processes. At the same time, it was found that during the manufacture of sulfur-bitumen composites, toxic gases H₂S and SO₂ are formed, which are capable of interacting with a mineral filler, as well as the interaction of sulfur with a mineral powder with the formation of sulfur-containing water-soluble salts, the extraction of which leads to a decrease in the moisture resistance of sulfur-bitumen materials. The change in the rate of leaching of these substances from the composite is due to the physical process caused by the crystallization of sulfur and the formation of a capillary structure, which significantly increases the rate of leaching of calcium and magnesium salts, which are products of dissolution or hydrolytic decomposition of water-soluble products of the interaction of sulfur, H₂S and SO₂ gases with calcium and magnesium carbonates. The intensity of chemical and physical processes intensifies with an increase in the amount of sulfur in sulfur-bitumen materials.