Crack Sealing Treatment Troubleshooting

IF THE SEALANT BECOMES THICKER OR GELLING OCCURS DURING APPLICATION:

• Sealing should be stopped
• Material should be immediately drained from the melter and disposed of.
• In extreme cases of gelling, the material can set up in the melter and can only be removed after cooling to ambient temperature and then cutting it out.
• This issue could be due to overheating
• Using damaged sealant may result in: adhesion, tracking/bleeding issues.

IF EXCESSIVE SAGGING OCCURS:

• Apply a second application as soon as possible after the initial application has cooled.
• For sloped pavements, choose a higher viscosity sealant to better resist sagging and flow.

IF SEALANT PUDDLES OCCUR:

• Remove them by heating a flat blade and cutting out the excess while taking care to not damage the treatment.

IF DRIPS AND EXCESS APPLICATION OCCURS:

• Use a drip stopper on the tip

 IF SURFACE REMAINS TACKY AFTER APPLICATION: 

• Place a light application of fine sand, typically 30 mesh sand.  Portland cement powder or lime can also be used. The light application of sand or powder coats the sealant surface making it non-tacky.  When using a sand or powder blotter, take care to not leave excessive loose material on the road surface.   
• Or place a liquid detacking product. Several manufacturers make products that can be spray applied onto the sealant surface to help cool the material and reduce surface tack.  These materials quickly cure to form a non-tacky surface.  Most detacking products are water based and applied through hand pressurized sprayers. 

If SEALANT HAS A LACK OF ADHESION TO ROUTED RESERVOIR WALLS:

• The reservoir walls are not clean and all contaminants should be removed
• There was moisture on walls from rain, dew, or condensation; wait for the pavement to dry and use either a hot air lance or a compressor with moisture trap.
• Sealant temperature too low; maintain recommended sealant temperature.
• Pavement temperature too low; wait until it warms up
• Incompatibility of sealant and asphalt mix; use proper formulation

IF THE SEALANT SURFACE IS NOT CONSISTENT:

• The operator control could have been poor or uneven; use an experienced operator
• Reservoir width/depth is variable
• Inconsistent material temperature