Learn the basics of cape seals (or show off your knowledge!) with this short educational quiz.

Did you read our latest study analyzing the eco-efficiency of cape seals in pavement preservation applications? BASF researchers assessed the economic and ecological properties of two different cape seals, comparing them to the more traditional pavement preservation method of hot mix overlays.

 

Is this the first you’ve heard of cape seal technology, or do you think you know enough to ace a few questions? Either way, take the quiz to brush up on your knowledge — or put it to the test!

Question 1

First off, what is a cape seal? (Choose the best answer.)

Question 2

What is the main purpose of cape seal technology?

Question 3

What are the benefits of using asphalt emulsions in your pavement preservation process (as opposed to hot mixes)?

Question 4

How do cape seals achieve so many advantages over hot mix overlays (HMAs)? (Choose the best answer.)

Question 5

Why should you do preventive maintenance early on in a pavement’s lifecycle — specifically with cape seals?

You crossed the finish line!

That’s the end of the road for this quiz. We hope you learned something new along the way.

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If you would like to know more about cape seal technology by BASF, feel free to contact a representative for more information.

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AAn asphalt emulsion modified with a latex polymer.

BFine aggregate embedded in an asphalt emulsion that has been sprayed on pavement.

CA chip seal covered with a micro-surfacing treatment.

DAn aquatic mammal with superpowers.

Correct! You got it right! When you cover a bottom course of chip seal with a wearing course of micro-surfacing, you get a cape seal.
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Incorrect! If you chose D, you’re clearly messing with us. Otherwise, good guess, but a cape seal is basically a chip seal that has been covered with a micro-surfacing treatment.
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ASeal small cracks and smooth existing pavement.

BIncrease the capacity and strength of aging pavement.

CExtend life and improve safety on pavement that’s nearing the end of its service life.

DA and C.

Correct! Absolutely. Cape seals are meant to seal small, non-structural cracks in pavement for a smoother and safer surface, and they are best used on pavement with a significant service life left.
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Incorrect! Trick question! While cape seals can extend the service life of pavement, they work best on roads that haven’t aged too much. In those cases, they can fill small cracks and smooth the pavement.
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AValue: They lower life-cycle costs and improve efficiency in your process.

BEnvironmental: They reduce energy consumption and hydrocarbon emissions.

CFunctional: They are easy to implement at remote sites and offer more pavement life-extending benefits for the cost per year.

DAll of the above.

Correct! Yes! Studies show that asphalt emulsions offer a host of environmental, functional and cost-related benefits over other, more standard pavement preservation techniques.
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Incorrect! Well, you’re partly right. We were looking for “All of the above,” since asphalt emulsions add many environmental, functional and cost-related benefits to your pavement preservation efforts.
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AThey speed up pavement preservation projects and make roads cheaper to maintain.

BThey have the ability to maintain road performance with significantly fewer materials.

CThey deplete fewer environmental resources while eliminating road deterioration.

DThey don’t. They are more expensive and less eco-friendly than HMAs.

Correct! You saw through our tricks. That’s right: Cape seals are advantageous compared to hot mixes because they help maintain the road’s desired characteristics with far fewer materials.
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Incorrect! That was a tricky one. Cape seals achieve these environmental and cost reduction advantages because of their ability to maintain road performance with far less material.
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AIt can extend the service life of the road in a cost-effective way.

BIt will reduce the overall environmental impact of road maintenance.

CThe initial cost is low, and it will preserve the road indefinitely.

DA and B.

Correct! Well done. The benefits of early preventive maintenance with cape seals are twofold: It extends service life and softens the environmental impact of road maintenance.
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Incorrect! Sorry, but we were looking for two answers: Early preventive maintenance with cape seals can both extend the road’s life and reduce the environmental impact of maintenance.
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