The Application of Soy Biodiesel in Bituminous Priming of Soil-Aggregate Layers of Low Traffic Volume Roads in the State of Ceara, Brazil

Abstract

This work investigates the potential of penetration, in terms of bituminous prime coat, of an asphalt mixture produced adding Soy Biodiesel [BIO] to the Asphalt Cement [AC] to be used in low traffic volume roads in the state of Ceara, Brazil. The main objective of this investigation was finding a less polluting alternative, by replacing kerosene, usually applied as diluent of AC in the traditional mixture CM-30. Therefore, a comparative study was made between the traditional binder [CM-30] and the proposed mixture [40% of Soy Biodiesel and 60% of AC 50/70], named as AC/BIO. Both tested binders were used in specimens made by the stabilization of a sandy soil, adding 50% and 60% of construction and demolition waste, resulting in two different soil-aggregate mixtures. The research considered some factors that influence the extent of penetration of the prime coat: moisture content of the base, type and volume of binder used and compaction energy. The characterization of the materials used in this research included tests such as the gradation of the aggregates, CBR and Resilient Modulus of the mixtures soil/aggregate, viscosity Saybolt-Furol and penetration of the binders (traditional and AC/BIO) in the samples of soil/aggregate. The results showed that the penetration potential of the AC/BIO mixture was similar to the CM-30 keeping the technical viability.