So as to achieve this proposal, we prepared a design for this project.

The 48% of the

microcapsules is the oil rejuvenator that is made up of coconut oil and water ratio that is
0.1% while the outer shell is 52% polymer which is the calcium alginate. The next one is
how microcapsules were inside the mixture of the asphalt. The microcapsules were
scattered on every part of the asphalt to ensure the sustainability of the coconut oil
microcapsules in the rejuvenating process of asphalts so that once road cracks are
formed, it can finally heal itself and return to its original shape and won‘t result to greater
damage such as potholes.

PROJECT OPERATION
To further explain how the coconut oil microcapsules work, let us all pay attention with
the picture. So, the microcapsule inside the mixture of asphalt can be activated by external
mechanical loads but can still survive in the mixing and construction process. It was made in
appropriate sizes so that it will only be activated when a crack appears. The oil is not really the
main reason why asphalt heals; it is the bitumen which is the binding materials of the asphalt. It
closes the micro cracks preventing it from getting bigger and the asphalt restores its stiffness
and strength. However, the bitumen gradually ages, becoming stiff and less adhesive causing
bigger cracks. The role of the rejuvenator inside the microcapsule is to lessen the viscosity of
bitumen making it easily glides through cracks. Additionally, it is assumed that when oil is
released in the mixture it increases its healing capability and once it reaches its maximum value,
the healing level will be constant as based on the result of the study by some authors stated
here in 2019 in Influence of encapsulated sunflower oil on the mechanical and self-healing
properties of dense-graded asphalt mixtures, which is related to the current project. After
completing the necessary documents needed to start the project and once the new mixture of
asphalt is completed and proven, it is deemed that it can be applied on transport roads.

1. What are the components of coconut oil that makes it suitable as a rejuvenating agent?

Unrefined or virgin coconut oil is deemed effective as it has low amounts of Free
Fatty Acid or FFA. According to a study by Rayhan B. Ahmed and Kamal Hossain (2020),
the presence of FFA weakens the adhesion of oil with bitumen. Besides, it reduces the
binder‘s rheological properties, which have an adverse effect on pavement mixture
performance. Since unrefined coconut oil has low Free Fatty Acid (FFA) content which is
0.03% (Kratzeisen and Müller, 2010), it is considered suitable as a rejuvenating agent.

To be exact, the rejuvenating agent to be used is Unrefined Coconut Oil which has a
density of 0.903 g/mL, a smoke point of 177°C and flash point of 350°F. Unrefined
coconut oil is proposed because this can retain the material's high proportion of
aromatics which is necessary to keep the asphaltenes dispersed. Although there are
occurences of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, a study by M. Amzad Hossain and S.M.
Salehuddin (2012) revealed that carcinogenic PAHs are not present in the edible oils
 such as soybean oil, mustard oil and coconut oil. Thus, coconut oil is not just effective
for rejuvenation but it also won‘t harm the people and the environment. In addition, a
study by Christian Aaron Walck, Daniel J. Cammarata, Jacqueline Barr, Justin Waters and
Rachel Lauren Rivera (2018) states that bio-based rejuvenators like coconut oil
microcapsules display good performance in visual assessments of the pavement
surfaces.

2. How does the capsules work?

The microcapsule inside the mixture of asphalt was made in appropriate sizes can be
activated by external mechanical loads or when a crack appears but can still survive in the
mixing and construction process. The oil is not really the main reason why asphalt heals; it is
the bitumen which is the binding materials of the asphalt. It closes the micro cracks
preventing it from getting bigger and the asphalt restores its stiffness and strength.

However, the bitumen gradually ages, becoming stiff and less adhesive causing bigger
cracks. The role of the rejuvenator inside the microcapsule is to lessen the viscosity of
bitumen making it easily glides through cracks. Additionally, it is assumed that when oil is
released in the mixture it increases its healing capability and once it reaches its maximum
value, the healing level will be constant as based on the result of the study by Jose
Norambuena-Contreras, Quantao Liu, Lei Zhang, Shaopeng Wu, Erkut Yalcin, and Alvaro
Garcia (2019) in Influence of encapsulated sunflower oil on the mechanical and self-healing
properties of dense-graded asphalt mixtures, which is related to the current project.

3. What makes you conduct this study? Are there specific reasons?

Since, coconut oil is very accessible here in the Philippines, this study also inclined to
exposing the other use of coconut oil aside from using it in food and other health benefits.

The study will be tested at Brgy. San Sebastian, Mataas na kahoy, Batangas. The researchers choose
this location because of the observed cracks in the roads with asphalt pavements. This is due to the
fact that many buses and other heavy vehicles access this road because a well-known resort,
Shercon Resort and Ecology Park, is situated here. In order to solve the problem of cracking roads
and for the safety of all travellers and tourists, there is a need for better roadways. Thus, the
proposed solution of applying self-healing asphalt is considered helpful because although heavy
vehicles may produce road cracks, the new innovation of microcapsule addition can easily heal the
cracks and will avoid further damage. Also to lessen the damage expenses as asphalt can now heal
itself through capsules.

4. Why are the viscoelastic and relaxation properties being tested? What are their roles?

5. Why is coconut oil the chosen oil?

Furthermore, coconut oil is chosen by the researchers because this product is very
prevalent here in the Philippines. There is an abundant harvest of coconut in the Philippines
and one of the closest refineries to where coconut oil can be obtained is in Lemery,
Batangas which is the Virgin Coconut Oil & Herbal Product Manufacturing. The collected
coconut oil samples will undergo specific procedures and encapsulation wherein definite
amounts of it will be added to asphalts to test its effect.

6. Why is Ac-20 choses as the asphalt mixture?

One of the characteristics and advantages of asphalt as an engineering construction and
maintenance material is its great versatility. Specifically, dense asphalt mixture AC-20 is chosen
because previous studies about encapsulation used this kind of mixture. As shown in the study by
Al-Mansoori, Norambuena-Contreras and Garcia (2018) which is about how encapsulated oil
addition and healing temperature influenced the self-healing potential of asphalt mixture, the use
42 of AC-20 as the mixture together with the oil rejuvenator provided better results and is very
consistent on the project control test. The mixture contains virgin bitumen 40/60 pen having the
density of 1.030 g/cm^3 with the softening point of 49.8°C and graded Tungsten limestone
aggregate having the density of 2.700 g/cm^3. Moreover, since asphalt mixture is known to be a
temperature-sensitive material in which its operational performance and mechanical characteristics
are greatly influenced by temperature, AC-20 is considered applicable as this is designed bituminous
asphalt that is mostly used in hot climates because of its high viscosity.

7. Why is asphalt chosen instead of concrete?

Engineers have long debated between asphalt and concrete for roadway projects. Choosing
between the two materials means weighing cost-effectivity, durability, maintenance, and eco-
friendliness. Carried by the momentum of the government‘s flagship infrastructure program ‗Build,
Build, Build,‘ engineers in the Philippines must face the question more frequently: which surface is
superior for roads and pavements?
Librorania (2020) first differentiated the two in terms of their cost. The price difference between
concrete and asphalt varies per project. Asphalt is the cheaper choice when it comes to preventive
maintenance, with costs up to 20% less than concrete. But when it comes to construction of new
roads and rehabilitation of existing ones, concrete is the cheaper choice by up to 16%. It‘s also
important to note that concrete has to be cured for at least a week before being used, while asphalt
surfaces can be used in a day (or even less); a key consideration for projects like public
infrastructure, where roads are needed to be opened for traffic as soon as possible. When put under
extreme pressure or surface movement, concrete will crack faster than the more flexible asphalt.
Repairs for this can get very expensive — sometimes even the whole slab would need to be replaced
in case of more significant cracks — but concrete‘s superior durability means breaking can be a very
rare incident. But this durability is put to the test in climates with freeze and thaw cycles. Concrete
can deteriorate faster over time with the fluctuation of moisture and extended exposure to salt and
de-icing compounds. For the Philippines‘ tropical weather, it can feel hotter than it should be with
asphalt surfaces.

As asphalt expands and contracts under the weather, it requires more frequent maintenance
through patching and sealing — the first one is done six months after installation — while concrete
demands less upkeep other than resealing every 5 years. As for the longevity and sustainability and
sustainability of the material, concrete has its key edge over asphalt. With the correct maintenance,
it can reach almost double the average lifespan of an asphalt road, which is 15 to 20 years. Both
materials are highly recyclable. To conclude, there‘s no quick or easy choice between concrete and
asphalt. Both 17 materials have qualities that could be a good fit for different situations, on top of
existing considerations in funding, function, climate, and location. (Librorania, 2020)

Why is the size of your microcapsules 2.5 mm?

The size of the capsules depended on the ratio of coconut oil and water.