Abstract
In this research, the feasibility of using nano-montmorillonite (MMT) in asphalt binders was investigated in terms of rheological properties, thermomechanical properties, and chemical structure composition. Different doses of MMT were added to the base asphalt and styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) asphalt as test subjects. The effect of nanomaterials on the high-temperature resistance of asphalt binders to permanent deformation was analyzed from dynamic mechanical rheology using the multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test. The sessile drop method test based on surface free energy (SFE) theory was employed and thermodynamic parameters such as surface free energy, cohesive work, and adhesion work were calculated to analysis the change in energy of the asphalt binder. In addition, changes in the chemical structure and composition of the asphalt binder were examined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) tests. The results showed that MMT can effectively enhance the high-temperature elastic recovery and plastic deformation resistance of the asphalt binder. The intercalation structure produced in the asphalt binder enhanced the overall cohesive power and adhesion to the aggregate. The anchoring effect of the intercalation structure resulted in an increase in the macromolecular weight of the binder was demonstrated, indicating that MMT enhanced the overall intermolecular forces of the binder. In addition, the molecular crystal structure was characterized by characteristic functional groups in the infrared spectra, while demonstrating that no chemical reaction occurs during the modification of the binder by the nanomaterials.
Highlights
Asphalt is a common pavement material in various countries around the world, but it often faces some problems in service, such as high sensitivity to temperature, softening under high-temperature conditions, cracking under low-temperature conditions, and aging under high-temperature and ultraviolet light [1]
The total strain of the S0 sample was 46.50% of that of the B0 sample, which means that the SBS asphalt binder has a better elastic recovery than the base asphalt and that it has a better resistance to plastic deformation
The effect of MMT on the performance of base asphalt and SBS asphalt binder was investigated from the perspective of rheological properties, surface energy theory, and chemical properties with the following main findings: 1. With the increase of MMT dosing, the value of elastic recovery of asphalt binder obtained a gradual increase, indicating that the interlayer structure formed by the montmorillonite layer and the asphalt binder plays a coordinating role in the force and deformation of the binder structure
Summary
Asphalt is a common pavement material in various countries around the world, but it often faces some problems in service, such as high sensitivity to temperature, softening under high-temperature conditions, cracking under low-temperature conditions, and aging under high-temperature and ultraviolet light [1]. In order to improve the road performance of asphalt pavement, the addition of modifier to the base asphalt has become a development trend. Li et al [5] demonstrated that the addition of graphene nanoparticles to asphalt can effectively improve the aging resistance, high-temperature stability, and temperature sensitivity of asphalt by studying the performance of asphalt modified with different amounts of graphene. The results of the study by Bhat et al [6] show that the addition of nano-Al2O3 has a positive effect on the rutting and fatigue properties of SBS modified bitumen binders. The nano-TiO2/CaCO3 composite modified asphalt has good rutting resistance at high temperatures and has improved cracking resistance at low temperatures. The different dimensions of the nanomaterials have been shown to be feasible for use in road engineering due to their characteristics
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