The research aims to illuminate the interfacial fusion mechanism of rejuvenator-aged asphalt to guide the development of high-performance rejuvenators and foster the high-value utilization of waste asphalt pavement materials. In the research, the contact angle between rejuvenator and aged asphalt was measured to assess its interface wettability, and the permeability and contributing factors in aged asphalt were profiled based on the permeation test and permeation degree parameter. Concurrently, the molecular dynamics simulations of the fusion behavior between rejuvenator and aged asphalt were conducted to comprehend the fusion mechanism deeply. Results reveal that thermal oxygen and photo-oxygen aging enhanced the asphalt mixture’s hydrophobicity with similar effects, and they also had comparable impacts on the wettability of rejuvenator-aged asphalt interface. A more considerable asphalt aging eventuated a more challenging for the rejuvenator to wet the asphalt surface naturally. Waste vegetable oil rejuvenators tended to have a superior wetting effect on the aged asphalt surface compared to mineral oil rejuvenators. Higher permeation temperatures and permeation durations facilitated the rejuvenator’s fusion with aged asphalt, and the permeability varied across different rejuvenators, hinging on the rejuvenator’s permeation performance and composition. The rejuvenator’s permeation process into light aged asphalt or aged matrix asphalt was prone to occur. The aging effect of asphalt negatively impacted the fusion process of the layered system. Compared to oleic acid, aromatic hydrocarbons exhibited superior permeation ability and better fusion effect with aged asphalt. Rejuvenator composition materials yielding high permeation and fusion effects should display the following characteristics: lower viscosity, weak molecular polarity, small molecular weight, linear molecular structure, or end phenyl ring structure.
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