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Assessing the Use of Alumina Microfibers as Modifiers to Enhance the Physical and Rheological Properties of Asphalt Binders

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify improvements in the physical and rheological properties of asphalt binders when alumina microfibers are added in the role of modifiers. Modified asphalt binder composites were prepared using three different alumina microfiber percentages (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2%) by volume on PG70-10 standard asphalt binder grade. The performance properties of the materials were evaluated against standard performance measurements such as penetration, ductility, flash, fire and softening points along with Superpave test protocol. The results of the investigation demonstrated that the use of improved characterization methods is advantageous in assessing modified asphalt binder performance. One such method used is Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging. Other methods that would help better characterize cracking and rutting resistance included the following: Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) test, Glover-Rowe (G-R) parameter and delta Tc (∆Tc) parameter. The results of the MSCR test clarified the inconsistencies between the physical and rheological properties. The percent recovery (R) and the non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr) changes with the addition of alumina microfiber caused an improvement in the asphalt binder’s rutting resistance while maintaining an acceptable fatigue cracking performance. Based on ΔTc and G-R parameters, it was found that the incorporation of alumina microfiber increased the asphalt binder’s ability to withstand additional aging without showing signs of cracking. As per fatigue cracking and thermal cracking routines, the optimum content of alumina microfiber was determined to be 0.1% for best performance against cracking as well as rutting. In addition, it was revealed statistically that alumina microfiber had a meaningful capability to improve physical and rheological properties of asphalt binders.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the deanship of scientific research at Jordan University of Science and Technology (Grant No. 121/2018) and laboratory work was conducted in the highway laboratory at Jordan University of Science and Technology. Authors greatly appreciate this financial support and the help of all technicians.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Al Azeziya, Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Mohammad Ali Khasawneh

  2. Civil Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

    Mohammad Ali Khasawneh & Bayan Abdul Majeed Al-Malak

  3. Chemical Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

    Mohannad Theeb Al-Jarrah

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  1. Mohammad Ali Khasawneh
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  2. Mohannad Theeb Al-Jarrah
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  3. Bayan Abdul Majeed Al-Malak
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Correspondence to Mohammad Ali Khasawneh.

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Khasawneh, M.A., Al-Jarrah, M.T. & Al-Malak, B.A.M. Assessing the Use of Alumina Microfibers as Modifiers to Enhance the Physical and Rheological Properties of Asphalt Binders. Int. J. Pavement Res. Technol. 15, 284–302 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42947-021-00008-2

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