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Trial Number 0

Trial Purpose:

To figure out how to melt asphalt onto stainless steel coupons so that it is not easily scraped off to mimic the the difficulty of getting asphalt off of the client's tools

Date Run:

05/31/2023

Experiment Procedure:

The convectional oven was preheated to 480 degrees F.  Meanwhile, three stainless steel coupons were chosen.  In the fume hood, dry asphalt rocks were set on each coupon.  The coupons were then put in the oven and were baked overnight.

Trial Results:

The rocks of asphalt did not melt onto the coupons overnight in the oven.  They were still solid, and while they had adhered a little bit to the coupon, they were easily scraped off.  It was later realized that heating asphalt to a temperature over 400 degrees F will not melt it, but burn off the rubber content within the asphalt, effectively drying out the asphalt rocks preventing them from melting.  The melting point of asphalt is about 330 degrees farenheit.

Success Rating:

Preliminary compatibility tests on substrate coupons encouraging for at least one cleaning chemistry. More in-depth laboratory testing necessary.

Conclusion:

This strategy of soiling coupons with asphalt was unsuccessful.  A future test of using the oven is needed at a lower temperature.

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