Evaluation of volatile organic compounds emissions and rheological properties of Buton rock asphalt modified asphalt

Abstract

With the booming construction of asphalt pavements, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission becomes a growing threat to the environment and people’s health. This paper aimed to investigate the impact of Buton rock asphalt (BRA) on VOCs emissions and the high-temperature rheological properties of modified asphalt. The investigation encompassed four different levels of BRA content, heating temperatures, and exposure durations, which were subjected to range analysis to ascertain the emission characteristics of BRA modified asphalt in terms of VOCs. Furthermore, the high-temperature rheological properties were assessed through dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests, and the correlation between asphalt VOCs characteristics and performance indicators was analyzed. The results showed that the emissions of VOCs increase significantly with rising temperatures and longer exposure to light. However, the incorporation of a 50% BRA modifier effectively reduced VOCs emissions by 8.84% while improving the high-temperature properties of asphalt. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the emission behavior of asphalt VOCs and the rheological properties of BRA modified asphalt. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the environmental effect of BRA modified asphalt and it’s potential as a sustainable alternative to traditional asphalt materials.