Crack Sealing is a preventive maintenance activity. Ideally, it is conducted shortly after working cracks have developed to an adequate extent and at a time of year when temperatures are moderately cool (7 to 18 ℃), such as in the spring or fall. When newly developed cracks are sealed after Crack Sealing Machine repaired, deteriorated cracks segments, which adversely affect seal performance, are minimized. Typically, transverse thermal cracks in AC flexible pavements appear 2 to 7 years after construction, whereas transverse reflection cracks in AC-overlaid concrete pavements often materialize 1 to 3 years after resurfacing.
Crack Sealing Machine start working in moderately cool temperatures is beneficial from two standpoints. First, cracks are partly opened so that a sufficient amount of material can be placed in the crack if cutting is not to be performed. Second, the width of the crack channel, whether cut or uncut, is nearly at the middle of its working range. This is important to the performance of the sealant material because it will not have to undergo excessive extension or contraction.
