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

Did you read our latest study analyzing the eco-efficiency of cape seals [LINK TO STUDY - https://insights.basf.com/home/article/read/study-analyzing-the-merits-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, try the questions out below to brush up on your knowledge — or put it to the test!

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Q&A

Q: First off, what is a cape seal?

A: A chip seal covered with a micro-surfacing treatment. - When you cover a bottom course of chip seal with a wearing course of micro-surfacing, you get a cape seal.

Q: What is the main purpose of cape seal technology?

A: Seal small cracks and smooth existing pavement. - 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.

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

A: Value: They lower life-cycle costs and improve efficiency in your process.; Environmental: They reduce energy consumption and hydrocarbon emissions.; Functional: They are easy to implement at remote sites and offer more pavement life-extending benefits for the cost per year. - Studies show that asphalt emulsions offer a host of environmental, functional and cost-related benefits over other, more standard pavement preservation techniques

Q: How do cape seals achieve so many advantages over hot mix overlays (HMAs)?

A: They have the ability to maintain road performance with significantly fewer materials. - Cape seals are advantageous compared to hot mixes because they help maintain the road's desired characteristics with far fewer materials.

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

A: It can extend the service life of the road in a cost-effective way and it will reduce the overall environmental impact of road maintenance. - The benefits of early preventive maintenance with cape seals are twofold: It extends service life and softens the environmental impact of road maintenance.

Last UpdateJuly 27, 2018

Q&A: How much do you know about cape seal technology?