Effect of Latex to Minimize the Use of Asphalt in Asphalt Concrete Wearing Course

Abstract

One aspect that needs to be considered in the application of asphalt pavement is the fact that asphalt is a non-renewable resource which requires constant maintenance throughout its lifetime. Thus, developing a mix with asphalt contents reduced to the minimum is a challenge in and of itself. Latex, in this case, would seem to be potentially viable additives. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of using latex as an additive to minimize the use of asphalt in asphalt concrete wearing courses (ACWC). Four varying amounts of latex were mixed with asphalt at 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% of the total weight of an asphalt binder. A wet process was then employed to blend the mixtures together. Afterward, the latex-asphalt mixtures were added to an aggregate to form various mixtures ranging from 5% to 7% of the aggregate and the incremental weight of 0.5% of the latex-asphalt ACWC. For each latex-asphalt-aggregate mixes, the optimum binder content was determined based on stability, flow, Marshall quotient, voids in the mineral aggregate (VMA), voids in the mixture (VIM) and voids filled by the binder (VFB). The results of this experiment indicated that the addition of latex reduces the need for asphalt contents.