Effective Vs. Affordable: A Tackifier Comparison.

Maria Polizzi
May 2017
SSSA Poster Abstract
Title: Effective vs. Affordable: A Tackifier Comparison

This research is focused on testing the effectiveness of a variety of straw tackifiers in order to find an alternative to emulsified asphalt, the most commonly used tackifier in North Carolina. Tackifiers are designed to hold straw together like a blanket to prevent it from blowing off the slopes where it is applied during the re-vegetation phase on construction projects. Since straw is both inexpensive and effective as a cover, it is widely used where vegetation is being established, in order to prevent erosion and protect germinating seed. However, without a tackifier, this straw will often blow away during storms, exposing the soil and seed. The primary objectives of the project are to determine the effectiveness of each potential tackifier to withstand wind and rain events, and to determine their effects, if any, on grass growth.

A significant portion of testing was completed using a wind tunnel to compare failure wind speeds of these products at different application rates and under a range of conditions. In general, wet straw was resistant to failure up to the maximum wind speed of 45-50 miles per hour even without tackifier. Gusted, or gusty, wind conditions caused straw failure at lower wind speeds than steady flow conditions, and tackifier application rates beyond those recommended by the manufacturer did not significantly improve stability. Hydromulch products, made of paper and/or wood fiber, were as effective as the asphalt in resisting failure, and some can be applied at much lower cost. As for vegetation testing, grass plots were established on both a field test site, as well as a live construction site, and were analyzed for vegetation cover using aerial photography taken by a small drone.