Membrane-Forming Performance of Emulsified Wax Curing Agent and Mechanical Properties of Ice Layer atop Cement Concrete Pavement

The membrane-forming performance of emulsified wax curing agent (EWCA) and the mechanical properties of the ice layer atop the cement concrete surface were explored via a series of tests in the research of this article. First, the tests for the membrane-forming performance of EWCA atop the glass plates or the cement concrete test blocks were conducted; the thermal endurance of the formed EWCA membrane, its performance against water erosion, the observation of its appearance, and the microstructure were the primary areas of focus in the research. These tests were performed to determine an optimized formula for EWCA and a practical product of EWCA with high performance. This kind of EWCA product was used in the tests for the mechanical properties of the ice layer atop the cement concrete test blocks. The results of these tests indicated that the EWCA product sprayed on the cement concrete surface reduced the sheer bond stress between the ice layer and the cement surface by 62 %, reduced the pull-out bond stress of the ice layer by 38 %, and reduced the impact resistance of the ice layer by 60 %. Thus, it can be concluded that spraying EWCA atop the cement concrete surfaces might improve the efficiency of removing the ice layer from the cement concrete surface.