Rheological Properties of Graphene Modified Asphalt Binders

Abstract

Recently, low-cost, high-quality graphene can be obtained readily, so it is potential to prepare conductive graphene modified asphalts (GMAs). In this paper, GMAs were prepared with 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% of graphene by weight of composites. Dynamic shear rheological experiments conducted from −30 to 120 °C illustrate that elasticity at above ambient temperatures and rutting resistance at higher temperatures are enhanced and, especially, the conceived percolation of GMAs occurs at graphene contents (GC) above 8% which were verified from three changes as GC increases, i.e., the curve characteristics of complex moduli, storage moduli at temperatures over 100 °C, temperatures when the phase angle reaches 90° and the trend of TG’=G’’. The modification mechanisms are different before and after percolation. Before the percolation threshold, graphene which has a molecular structure similar to asphaltene enhances asphalt, like increasing asphaltene components, and after threshold, graphene improves asphalt because of the formed graphene networks. Rotational viscosities test results show that the higher the GC is, the higher the operating temperatures are, but the operating temperatures are higher than 200 °C when GC is above 4%. The percolation helps to further develop conductive asphalt concrete for intelligence pavement, but the operating properties of GMAs need to be improved.

Assessing the impact of ultra-thin diamond nanothreads on the glass transition temperature of a bituminous binder

“…59 Some researchers considered the temperature where the high elastic state remains as the glass transition temperature, 51 while others regarded the initial temperature entering the glassy state as the glass transition temperature. 36,60 Many studies selected the middle temperature within the glass transition region as the glass transition temperature. 40,44,48,61 Meanwhile, different temperature ranges have been adopted for the T g calculation.…”

Multiscale Interfacial Interactions in Graphene-Asphalt Nanocomposites: Implications for Asphalt Pavement Material Applications

“…The road is the main carrier of social and economic development, and a road with excellent performance has a great role in promoting the economy. With the explosive growth of traffic flow, ordinary pavement has been unable to meet the actual needs, people have to develop higher-performance pavement materials to adapt to this change. , Graphene-asphalt nanocomposites are promising next-generation pavement materials due to their excellent temperature performance, rheological properties, and crack resistance. − At present, the performance of graphene-asphalt nanocomposites has been systematically evaluated, including graphene content, aging resistance, water damage resistance, etc. − Graphene exhibits a comprehensive enhancement capability. However, the multiscale mechanism of performance enhancement, especially the multiscale interaction mechanism at the interface, has not been well understood.…”

Asphalt Binder Modification with Plastomeric Compounds Containing Recycled Plastics and Graphene

“…Another promising category of modifying agents for bitumen is represented by graphene [13,14], able to improve the bitumen stiffness at high temperatures and the deformation recovery [15], as well as to reduce the cost of the entire pavement life cycle [16][17][18].…”