Effects of zeolite on rheological properties of asphalt materials and asphalt-filler interaction ability

Abstract

The rheological properties of asphalt materials (asphalt binder and mastic) and asphalt-filler interactions play critical roles in the performance of asphalt mixtures. However, the rheological properties of zeolite-foamed asphalt materials and zeolite-foamed asphalt-filler interactions are significantly influenced by zeolite, which is used as a foaming additive. To study the effects of zeolite on the rheological properties of asphalt materials and asphalt-filler interaction, the base asphalt, limestone filler, and two kinds of zeolites in two dehydrated states were selected to prepare zeolite asphalt/mastic and zeolite-foamed asphalt/mastic. First, the effects of zeolite on the chemical composition and micromorphology of asphalt binders were evaluated using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and fluorescence microscopy (FM), respectively. Then, the rheological properties of asphalt binders and mastics were measured by rotational viscosity (RV) and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests. The results indicated that zeolite did not chemically react with the components of asphalt, and zeolite minerals played a role in volume filling and physical adsorption in asphalt, which dispersed in the asphalt in the form of floccules. Adding zeolite minerals to asphalt binders and mastics enhanced the elasticity, which was beneficial to high-temperature performance and adverse to fatigue performance. Conversely, the effect of zeolite water released by zeolite was the opposite. The effect of zeolite on the rheological properties of asphalt materials was consistent with that of zeolite minerals because the enhancing effect of zeolite minerals was dominant, offsetting the weakening effect of zeolite water in asphalt binders and mastics. The three indices, namely, intrinsic viscosity [η], Palierne-C-G* parameter, and Ziegel-B-δ parameter, were selected to evaluate the zeolite asphalt-filler interaction ability and zeolite-foamed asphalt-filler interaction ability. The results showed that the asphalt-filler interaction ability was enhanced after adding zeolite minerals to asphalt, and the influence of zeolite on asphalt-filler interaction was consistent with zeolite minerals. However, the opposite effect was observed for zeolite water.