Development of an asphalt mixture with polymer incorporation modified by industrial graphene nanoplatelets for high-performance to rutting

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to develop a high-performance asphalt mixture resistant to rutting through modification with industrial-scale graphene nanoplatelets (industrial GNPs). To achieve this objective, industrial GNPs were incorporated into an SBS-modified asphalt binder at concentrations of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% by mass of the asphalt binder. The aim was to select a design content to enhance the rutting performance of the resulting asphalt mixture. The nanomaterial content selection criterion was based on apparent viscosity results and rheological parameters (MSCR). Two asphalt mixtures were produced after determining the nanomaterial content: a reference mixture and another modified by the selected content (2.64% of industrial GNPs). The mechanical performance was assessed through resistance to rutting tests on French Orniéurer equipment and, in a secondary character, the fatigue resistance under four-point bending. The results showed better rheological behaviour of the modified composites than of the original binder, decreasing the viscous response at high temperatures and thus reducing the non-recoverable deformations. The resistance to rutting of the modified mixture exceeded that of the reference mixture by 19% (mean rut for 30,000 cycles) without significant damage to the fatigue life, proving the high rutting performance of the alternative asphalt mixture.

KEYWORDS:

• Graphene nanoplatelets
• asphalt composites
• asphalt mixtures
• polymer matrix
• rheological behaviour
• rutting

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the following laboratories: Laboratory of Paving (LabPav/ECV/UFSC), Laboratory of Applications of Nanotechnology in Civil Construction (NANOTEC/ECV/UFSC), Laboratory of Control and Polymerization Process (LCP/UFSC), Central Laboratory of Electronic Microscopy (LCME/UFSC), Multiuser Laboratory of Biological Studies (LAMEB/UFSC), Laboratory of Civil Construction Materials (LMCC/UFSC), and Laboratory of Paving Laboratory of Multifunctional Materials and Numerical Experimentation (LAMMEN/UFRN). To the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the financial support for developing this research (Call No. 09/2020), the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel – Brazil (CAPES) – Financing Code 001 and the National Department of Transportation Infrastructure (DNIT) from Brazil (Agreement Term TED No. 702/2020) for the investments made in the Laboratory of Paving at UFSC.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [grant number Call No. 09/2020 (Process: 312181/2020-5)]; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior [grant number Financing Code 001]; National Department of Transportation Infrastructure (DNIT) [grant number Agreement Term TED No. 702/2020].