Physico-chemical and mechanical properties of asphalt binders blended with waste bio-shell powder

ABSTRACT

Bio-shell is a renewable bio-waste resource being used to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly pavement materials. In this study, bio-shell was mixed with asphalt to prepare bio-shell-modified asphalt. The modified asphalt was divided into four groups with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% of waste bio-shells. The morphology of the bio-shell was investigated by scanning electron microscopy tests. Penetration, softening point, and ductility tests were performed to analyse the basic physical properties of bio-shell asphalt. Dynamic shear rheometer and bending beam rheometer were used to high and low-temperature rheological properties of the bio-shell-modified asphalt. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy were used to analyse the atomic distribution and relative content of bio-shell-modified asphalt and reveal the modification mechanism. Atomic force microscopy was employed to observe the nano-microscopic morphology of the bio-shell-modified asphalt, and to analyse the changes of the bee structures in the asphalt. The results showed that the high-temperature rheology of 15% bio-shell asphalt was the best. The rutting factors of the asphalt increased by 38%, 43%, 45%, 50%, 55% and 63% at temperatures of 40°C, 46°C, 52°C, 58°C, 64°C and 70°C, respectively, compared to the matrix asphalt.

KEYWORDS:

• Biomass resource
• bio-shell waste
• rheological properties
• chemical properties
• micromorphology

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all those who have provided guidance and assistance for this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Second Highway Engineering Project of China Communications Construction: “Research on Reasonable Modification Methods of Asphalt Pavement in Damp and Hot Regions”. Project number: [QHTJ01-QT-80].