Durability of waterborne epoxy modified fog seal under combined environmental and accelerated abrasion conditions

Emulsified asphalt has been widely adopted for preventive pavement maintenance due to its environmental friendliness; however, conventional formulations often suffer from insufficient mechanical strength and limited durability when exposed to complex service environments. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel waterborne epoxy resin modified fog seal (WEFS) and evaluates its durability under combined environmental and mechanical stressors. An optimal epoxy resin dosage of 8 % was determined through radar chart analysis of multi-interface bonding strength, ensuring both structural cohesion and interlayer performance. Laboratory simulations replicating real-world degradation conditions, including water-heat-light aging, freeze-thaw cycling, and wheel-tracking abrasion, were systematically designed to assess performance evolution. Comparative experiments among untreated specimens, conventional fog seal-treated specimens, and WEFS-treated specimens revealed that WEFS enhanced spalling resistance by 60.7 % under freeze-thaw abrasion, and demonstrated a 62.1 % improvement under combined environmental aging and mechanical abrasion. While direct improvements in skid resistance were modest, WEFS effectively suppressed long-term fluctuations in surface friction. This study's key innovation lies in its focus on durability enhancement under coupled environmental and mechanical deterioration, demonstrating that WEFS provides a robust and technically viable solution for sustaining pavement surface integrity in aggressive service environments.