Prefabricated reinforcement for asphaltic paving and process for reinforcing asphaltic pavings

Claim 2

The reinforcement of claim 1, characterized in that the grid has a strength of more than 25 kN/m in the direction of each set of parallel strands.

Claim 3

The reinforcement of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said coating is forming a tack coat free bond between grid and asphalt.

Claim 4

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the adhesive coating is preapplied to a portion of the underside of the impregnated strands of the grid lower surface.

Claim 5

The reinforcement of claim 4, characterized in that the portion of the underside of the impregnated strands of the grid lower surface comprises about 20 to 60% of the surface area of the underside of the strands.

Claim 6

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the strands of the grid are fixedly connected at their intersections before impregnation.

Claim 7

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the adhesive is activatable by the application of pressure.

Claim 8

The reinforcement of claim 7, characterized in that the adhesive has a probe tack greater than about 700 gm/cm² (gm-gram force).

Claim 9

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the adhesive is activatable by the application of heat.

Claim 10

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the adhesive is applied to and coats only one side of the grid.

Claim 11

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the adhesive is applied to about 5% to 10% by weight of the grid.

Claim 12

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the peel strength of the adhesive permits separation of one layer of reinforcement from another layer after storage without significant distortion of the grid.

Claim 13

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the cohesive strength of the adhesive is greater than its adhesive strength.

Claim 14

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the adhesive retains significant shear strength between the ambient temperature at which it is installed and the temperature to which it is raised when asphaltic paving is applied to it.

Claim 15

The reinforcement of claim 14, characterized in that the lowest ambient temperature is about 4.5°C (40°F) and the highest exposure temperature is about 65.5°C (150°F).

Claim 16

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the peel strength of the adhesive resists peel in the "peel test" at 0°C (32°F).

Claim 17

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the adhesive has a shear adhesion failure temperature greater than about 65.5°C (150°F).

Claim 18

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the adhesive imparts to the reinforcement when placed on paving a shear strength greater than about 13.6 kg (30 pounds) per linear 30.48 cm (1 foot).

Claim 19

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the adhesive has a viscosity at 150°C (300°F) of less than about 6000 centipoise.

Claim 20

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the openings in the grid range in size from 1.9 to 15.24 cm (3/4 inch to 6 inches) on a side.

Claim 21

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 20, further comprising selecting as the continuous filament fibers, low-twist glass fibers ranging in weight from about 300 to about 5000 g/1000 m (tex).

Claim 22

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the grid weighs between approximately 135.62 to 610.31 g/m² (4 to 18 ounces per square yard).

Claim 23

The reinforcement of any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the coated grid is rolled into the form of a roll.

Claim 24

A process for reinforcing asphaltic paving comprising: selecting an open grid comprising two sets of parallel strands of continuous filament fibers, each set of strands being resin-impregnated and having openings between adjacent strands, the openings ranging in size from 0.317 to 15.24 cm (1/8 inch to 6 inches) on a side and being maintained open after impregnation, and the two sets being oriented substantially perpendicular to each other, and preapplying a coating of stable adhesive to the underside of the impregnated strands of the lower surface of the grid without closing the openings between the strands, the adhesive coating being preapplied to the grid primarily for the purpose of being activated for forming a bond compatible with asphaltic paving, laying the grid, adhesive side down, essentially directly to the paving to be reinforced, activating the adhesive coating so that the activated coating provides essentially all binding force with the paving, and spreading a layer of asphaltic cement or concrete on top of the grid.

Claim 25

The process of claim 24, in which said grid has a strength of more than 25 kN/m in the direction of each of said parallel strands.

Claim 26

The process of claim 24 or 25, in which said coating is forming a tack coat free bond between grid and asphalt.

Claim 27

The process of any one of claims 24 to 26, in which tack coat is applied to the paving to be reinforced only after the grid is laid on top of that paving.

Claim 28

The process of any one of claims 24 to 27, characterized in that the step of preapplying the adhesive coating comprises preapplying the adhesive to a portion of the underside of the impregnated strands of The grid lower surface.

Claim 29

The process of any one of claims 24 to 28, characterized in that the step of preapplying The adhesive coating comprises preapplying the adhesive to about 20 to 60% of the surface area of the underside of the impregnated strands.

Claim 30

The process of any one of claims 24 to 29, characterized in that the openings in the grid range in size from 1.9 to 15.24 cm (3/4 inch to 6 inches).

Claim 31

The process of any one of claims 24 to 30, characterized in that the adhesive is applied to about 5% to 10% by weight of the grid.

Claim 32

The process of any one of claims 24 to 31, further comprising selecting as the continuous filament fibers, low-twist glass fibers ranging in weight from about 300 to about 5000 g/1000 m (tex).

Claim 33

The process of any one of claims 24 to 32, characterized in that the grid weighs between approximately 135.62 to 610.31 g/m² (4 and 18 ounces per square yard).

Claim 34

The process of any one of claims 24 to 33, characterized in that the adhesive has a pressure sensitivity of greater than 700gm/cm² (gm-gram force) and a cohesive strength greater than its adhesive strength.

Claim 35

The process of any one of claims 24 to 34, characterized in that the adhesive has a peel strength that resists peel in the "peel test" at 0°C (32°F).

Claim 36

The process of any one of claims 24 to 35, characterized in that the adhesive has a shear adhesion failure temperature of greater than about 65.5°C (150°F).

Claim 37

The process of any one of claims 24 to 36, characterized in that the adhesive imparts a shear strength between grid and pavement of at least 13.6 kg (30 pounds).

Claim 38

The process of any one of claims 24 to 37, characterized in that the adhesive has a viscosity of less than 6000 centipoise at 150°C (300°F).

Claim 39

The process of any one of claims 24 to 38, characterized by rolling the grid into the form of a roll, and unrolling said grid and then laying said grid to the paving to be reinforced.