Experimental investigation on the effects of a new anti-stripping additive on performance properties of asphalt and its mixtures

Abstract

• A new compound anti-stripping additive called DMA-NSDD was developed. • The asphalt and its mixture performance was investigated by experiments. • A comparison was made of the performance of seven asphalts and their mixtures. • The performance of asphalt with DMA-NSDD and its mixtures was markedly improved. This study aims to investigate the effects of a new compound anti-stripping additive called DMA-NSDD, which comprised dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) that is a marine biomimetic material and nano-silicon dioxide dispersion (NSDD), on the performance properties of asphalt and its mixtures by experiments. The main steps of DMA synthesis were described. The test methods used in this study for asphalt and asphalt mixture performance were also introduced. The performance properties of asphalt with DMA-NSDD and its mixtures were investigated by comparing with those of virgin asphalt, styrene–butadienestyrene (SBS) modified asphalt, anti-stripping asphalts DMA, NSDD, LYKB™, and GLWS™, and their mixtures. Results showed that the marine biomimetic material DMA could be used in asphalt and its mixtures to increase their performance properties. Compared with SBS, DMA, NSDD, LYKB™, and GLWS™, the asphalt–aggregate adhesion and water stability of the asphalt mixtures with DMA-NSDD were the best and enhanced most significantly. The high- and low-temperature performance of the asphalt mixtures with DMA-NSDD was also notably improved, although it was second only to that of the SBS-modified asphalt mixtures. Overall, with DMA-NSDD, the performance properties of asphalt mixtures with granite aggregates improved more than those of asphalt mixtures with limestone aggregates.