Evaluation of the Properties of Asphalt Mixes Modified with Diatomite and Lignin Fiber: A Review

Abstract

Due to rapid growth of traffic density, the phenomenon of overloading on high-grade highways causes various modes of distresses to the pavement such as rutting, thermal cracking, and water damage. Modification of asphalt mixes is the most common solution to improve the performance of asphalt pavement to mitigate its damages. This paper provides a review on the influence of diatomite or lignin fiber as a modifier in asphalt mixes. In order to assess the effectiveness of selected additives on asphalt mix performance, several tests, such as wheel tracking, indirect tensile, three points bending, freeze thaw splitting, and marshall immersion, were reviewed. The review indicated that the addition of diatomite increases the high temperature rutting resistance of asphalt mixes, but some researchers observed that it has a little improvement on the low temperature performance of asphalt mixes and the optimum amount of diatomite at 12–14% of asphalt binder can be added into the mix. In contrast, lignin fiber has a significant effect on the low temperature cracking resistance of asphalt mixes; however, its influence on the high temperature rutting resistance of asphalt mix is limited, and the optimum amount of lignin fiber is 0.2–0.4% per asphalt mix composition. The review also indicated that the single additives haven’t the ability to enhance the overall performance of asphalt mix. Consequently, the utilization of double additives can improve the overall performance of asphalt mixes at the same time, but it is still in an early stage in the application of highway engineering due to all previous researches concentrated on the single modification. Moreover, this review suggests that the future use of diatomite and lignin fiber compound modified asphalt mix can improve the overall mix performance.

Laboratory Study on the Performance of Asphalt Mixes Modified with a Novel Composite of Diatomite Powder and Lignin Fiber

“…According to the aforementioned research and the previous review [17], it is clear that using diatomite or lignin fiber can improve the asphalt mixes but in different degrees. As the performance of asphalt mixes modified by diatomite or lignin fiber is similar in some effects and different in another, the utilization of double-adding technology into mixes may be more useful on the resistance of asphalt pavement to distress than the single adding.…”

“…Therefore, researchers realized that the utilization of additives in asphalt mixes is the best method to apply to decrease consumption of natural resources, extend the service life, and improve asphalt pavement properties in case the pavement structure cannot withstand the climate effects and high traffic loads [14][15][16]. Among various types of additives, both lignin fiber and diatomite powder, were chosen to modify the behavior of asphalt mix under low temperature and water effects, based on the recommendation of the previous study [17].…”

Study on the Durability of Bamboo Fiber Asphalt Mixture

“…It is an effective measure to solve the performance defects of asphalt pavement [ 3 , 4 ]. At present, lignin fiber, mineral fiber and polymer fiber are widely used in asphalt mixture, among which lignin fiber is the most popular because of its good chemical stability, strong oil absorption capacity, and low price [ 5 , 6 ]. However, most lignin fibers are taken from logs, and their large-scale use does not conform to the development concept of resource conservation, so they are not suitable for large-scale application in the rapid growth of road infrastructure.…”

Solubility parameters analysis of Eucalyptus urograndis kraft lignin

“…Applications of lignin cover many different segments because of the high concentration of phenolic groups in its structure, suggesting its use as a precursor for higher value-added products. Some applications include its use as a dispersing agent in concrete (Mullick 1996), asphalt mixtures (Yue et al 2019), carbon fibers (Kadla et al 2002), polyurethanes (Gadhave et al 2018), phenolic resins (Li et al 2018), advanced composites (Polat et al 2017), and antioxidants (Liu et al 2017), among others. The remaining challenge is to provide more homogenous lignin fractions with regard to molecular size and functional groups distribution.…”