Selective Absorption of Asphalt Binder by Limestone Aggregates in Asphalt Mixtures
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 25, Issue 2
Abstract
It has been found that aggregates used in paving asphalt mixtures absorb the asphalt binder into the porous structure of the aggregates. National test methods are available to measure the aggregate absorption. However, most research and measurements on aggregate absorption are limited to the accessible voids at the aggregate surface. This paper presents recent findings on the selective absorption of asphalt binder by aggregate particles in asphalt mixtures. The selective absorption of the binder is visualized on the aggregate surface under natural light and ultraviolet light. Rings with different colors are identified on the cross sections of the aggregates in both hot-mix asphalt and warm-mix asphalt, which indicates different asphalt components at different radial distances from the center of the aggregates. The asphalt components penetrating into aggregates are verified using the laser desorption ionization–ion mobility–mass spectrometer. A significantly higher concentration of asphalt components is identified at the edge of the limestone sample than in its center after it is soaked in a PG 58-28 asphalt binder (labeled AAD) for 32 h. Creep tests are also conducted on fresh limestone samples and limestone samples soaked in the AAD binder. The fresh limestone sample behaves elastically and is approximately twice as stiff as the sample soaked in the binder, which exhibits nonnegligible viscoelastic properties in the creep test.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge Ms. Cindy Estakhri for providing field cores for testing in this study and Dr. Francisco Fernandez-Lima for conducting the laser desorption ionization–ion mobility–mass spectrometer on the limestone samples.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 25 • Issue 2 • February 2013
Pages: 219 - 226
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 27, 2011
Accepted: May 11, 2012
Published online: May 15, 2012
Published in print: Feb 1, 2013
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