Performance Analysis of Industrial-Waste-Based Artificial Aggregates: CO2 Uptake and Applications in Bituminous Pavement

Abstract

In order to raise the utilization rate of industrial waste and mitigate issues involving land resource occupation and environmental damage, in this study, industrial-waste-based artificial aggregates (IWAAs) were fabricated using steel slag powders, fly ash, and cement. They were processed under accelerated carbonation and were utilized in a bitumen mixture. During the experiment, the micromorphology, internal structure, and phase composition of IWAAs before and after accelerated carbonation were characterized using X-ray phase analysis, thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM); concurrently, the possibility of IWAAs being used as a partial substitute for natural aggregate to prepare bituminous mixture was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed based on Marshall’s design procedure in combination with road performance tests and microcosmic analyses. The results indicated that the presence of carbonate crystals brought about by accelerated carbonation was the main phase composition inside the IWAAs, enhancing the microstructure densification and diminishing the immersion expansion and crushing values; this is due to the depletion of the interior Ca-based (e.g., f-CaO and Portlandite) and Mg-based (e.g., periclase and brucite) compounds together with the formation of cement hydration products. Additionally, the 12 h carbonation time obtained the optimum CO2-sequestration efficiency on the premise of satisfying the performance standard. The expansion rate and crushing value of the IWAAs decreased by 82.21% and 41.58%, respectively, whilst the anti-rutting properties, the moisture damage resistance, and the skid resistance rose by 31.92%, 5.59%, and 10.00%, respectively, in the IWAAs–bituminous mixture. This study lays a foundation for research on the CO2 sequestration and resource utilization of industrial wastes in bitumen mixtures.