Methods for sealing and resealing concrete using microwave energy

Abstract

Portland cement concrete at a roadbed, bridge deck or the like is quickly and deeply heated and dried by directing microwave energy into the concrete and by applying hot gas to the surface. A layer of thermoplastic sealant is applied to the hot concrete followed by an overlayer of asphaltic concrete having a higher softening temperature than the sealant layer. Compaction then produces a composite pavement which is sealed against water intrusion and which can be quickly, easily and economically resealed and resurfaced at a later time using little or no additional paving materials. Resealing and resurfacing is accomplished by deeply reheating all three layers by microwave irradiation followed by recompaction. If cracking and deterioration are severe, the asphaltic concrete layer may be remixed and rescreeding between the reheating and recompaction steps. Both the initial production of the composite pavement and the restoration processes can be accomplished on a continuous process basis while traveling along the roadbed, bridge deck or the like.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.