A Review of Nanomaterials’ Effect on Mechanical Performance and Aging of Asphalt Mixtures

Abstract

This review addresses the effects of the modifications with nanomaterials, particularly nanosilica, nanoclays, and nanoiron, on the mechanical performance and aging resistance of asphalt mixtures. The desire for high-performance and long-lasting asphalt pavements significantly pushed the modification of the conventional paving asphalt binders. To cope with such demand, the use of nanomaterials for the asphalt binder modification seems promising, as with a small amount of modification an important enhancement of the asphalt mixture mechanical performance can be attained. Several studies already evaluated the effects of the modifications with nanomaterials, mostly focusing on the asphalt binder properties and rheology, and the positive findings encouraged the study of modified asphalt mixtures. This review focuses on the effects attained in the mechanical properties of the asphalt mixtures, under fresh and aged conditions. Generally, the effects of each nanomaterial were evaluated with the current state-of-art tests for the characterization of mechanical performance of asphalt mixtures, such as, permanent deformation, stiffness modulus, fatigue resistance, indirect tensile strength, and Marshall stability. Aging indicators, as the aging sensitivity, were used to evaluate the effects in the asphalt mixture’s aging resistance. Finally, to present a better insight into the economic feasibility of the analyzed nanomaterials, a simple cost analysis is performed.

Special Issue on Nano-Modified Asphalt Binders and Mixtures to Enhance Pavement Performance

“…The review published [1] described the effect of using nanosilica, nanoclays, and nanoiron to achieve better, more efficient asphalt mixtures, mechanically and in durability terms, fostering high-performance and long-lasting asphalt pavements.…”

The High Temperature Performance Evaluation of Polymer/Nanocomposite Modified Asphalt Cement

“…Thus, modification of AC has become essential to improve the performance characteristics and durability of pavement roads. On this basis, polymers, nanomaterials, and polymer/nanocomposite materials have previously been utilized to modify AC (3,4).…”

“…Arabani et al, (32) and Ziari et al (33) conducted research on CNT-modified asphalt binders and mixtures and concluded that the CNT modifiers enhanced the mechanical properties and also improved the aging resistance and self-healing mechanism of binders and hot mix asphalt (HMA). According to to Crucho et al, (4) and You et al, (34), nanoclay modified binders enhance the stiffness and elasticity of AC; however, due to the limited enhancement in the elastic behavior of AC, nanoclay is more frequently used as a second modifier to polymer modified AC. Jun et al, (28) stated that the addition of a small amount of nanoclay into SBS modified binders can enhance the thermal properties of AC both at high and low temperatures while also improving the compatibility between the polymer and bitumen.…”

A Compressive Review on High‐ and Low‐Temperature Performance of Asphalt Modified with Nanomodifier

“…Some published researches have proved that nanomodifier can play a significant role in enhancing the performance of asphalt binder and that it has shown the potential to solve the serious issues confronting asphalt pavement [3,4]. Nanomodified asphalt has become the research hotspots in recent years [5][6][7]. Many studies on the high-and low-temperature performance of nanomodified asphalt have been performed.…”