Binder composition for improved tack coat and stress absorbing membrane interlayer application for road construction

1. A non-tracking tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane layer covering the entire width of a pavement surface, said tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane comprising:

an asphalt binder;

an elastomeric polymer,

a wax modifier; and

a filler selected from fumed silica and fumed alumina,

wherein the asphalt binder comprises about 85 to about 97 wt. % of the tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane.

2. The tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane of claim 1 , further comprising an additive selected from a saponified fatty acid and a resin acid gelling compound.

3. The tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane of claim 1 , wherein the tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane comprises an interlayer positioned between the pavement surface and an asphalt overlay.

4. A roadway comprising the tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane of claim 1 on a pavement surface.

5. The roadway of claim 4 , further comprising an asphalt overlay.

6. The roadway of claim 4 , wherein the pavement surface comprises at least one of an asphalt concrete, a cement concrete, a milled asphalt concrete, a brick surface, or a chip seal surface.

7. The tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric polymer is selected from at least one of a styrene-butadiene-styrene polymer, an ethylene-styrene interpolymer, a styrene-butadiene rubber, or an ethylene terpolymer.

8. The tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane of claim 1 , wherein the wax modifier comprises at least one of a vegetable wax, an animal wax, a coal wax, a petroleum wax, an amide wax, or a waxy fatty acid soap.

9. The tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane of claim 8 , further comprising sulfur.

10. The tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane of claim 9 , wherein the wax modifier comprises an amide wax.

11. A method of installing a non-tracking tack coat layer or a stress absorbing membrane layer, comprising:

identifying a pavement surface having a width; and

applying the tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane across the entire width of the pavement surface, said tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane comprising

an asphalt binder,

an elastomeric polymer,

a wax modifier, and

a filler selected from at least one of fumed silica or fumed alumina,

wherein the asphalt binder comprises about 85 to about 97 wt. % of the tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying an asphalt overlay over the tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane to form a roadway.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the asphalt overly comprises a hot-mix asphalt.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane is applied n the pavement surface at an application rate of about 0.10 to about 0.15 gallons per square yard.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the tack coat layer or stress absorbing membrane is applied to the pavement surface at an application rate of about 0.15 to about 0.6 gallon per square yard.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pavement surface comprises at least one of an asphalt concrete, a cement concrete, a milled asphalt concrete, a brick surface, or a chip seal surface.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric polymer is selected from at least one of a styrene-butadiene-styrene polymer, an ethylene-styrene interpolymer, a styrene-butadiene rubber, or an ethylene terpolymer.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the wax modifier comprises at least one of a vegetable wax, an animal wax, a coal wax, a petroleum wax, an amide wax, or a waxy fatty acid soap.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising sulfur.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the wax modifier comprises an amide wax.