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Enhancing rheological and self-healing properties of aged bitumen using a pyro-rejuvenator from waste tyres
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Jose L. Concha,
Silvia Caro ,
Luis E. Arteaga-Pérez ,
Jose Norambuena-Contreras
Construction and Building Materials, Volume: 470, Start page: 140639
Swansea University Author:
Jose Norambuena-Contreras
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.140639
Abstract
The progressive ageing of bitumen in road construction, driven by environmental and traffic conditions, presents a significant challenge in pavement engineering. This ageing process reduces the lifespan of the asphalt roads and their intrinsic self-healing capabilities to seal cracks. To address thi...
| Published in: | Construction and Building Materials |
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| ISSN: | 0950-0618 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2025
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69134 |
| Abstract: |
The progressive ageing of bitumen in road construction, driven by environmental and traffic conditions, presents a significant challenge in pavement engineering. This ageing process reduces the lifespan of the asphalt roads and their intrinsic self-healing capabilities to seal cracks. To address this issue from a waste valorisation perspective, the present study proposes using a pyro-rejuvenator (PR), obtained by pyrolysis of waste tyres and optimised by thermal fractionation, as a novel rejuvenating agent for aged asphalts. The effects of the PR at different dosages (3%, 6%, and 9% wt. of bitumen) on the chemical, rheological, and self-healing properties of long-term aged bitumen (PAV) were evaluated. In this study, a commercial rejuvenator (CR) was also used at equivalent dosages for comparison. The effect of the type and content of the rejuvenators on the PAV-aged bitumen samples was evaluated through chemical properties. This analysis included the change in the carbonyl (C = O) and sulfoxide (S2= O) functional groups in bitumen molecules by FTIR-ATR tests. Additionally, rheological tests using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) on bitumen samples were also carried out to evaluate changes in the dynamic shear modulus (|G*|) and phase angle (δ) through frequency-temperature sweep tests. A methodology was also developed to quantify the self-healing capability of modified bitumen by measuring the recovery of the |G*| in fatigue DSR tests. The results indicate that the addition of PR up to 6% wt.: i) restored the changes in the carbonyl and sulfoxide functional groups of a PAV-aged bitumen to levels between a short-term aged bitumen (RTFO) and an unaged state; ii) promoted the restoration of the |G*| and of the PAV-aged bitumen to levels comparable to an unaged bitumen, and iii) promoted the healing of the PAV-aged sample. In conclusion, this research highlights the potential of the pyro-rejuvenator as a sustainable solution for improving the rheological and self-healing properties of aged bitumen. These findings also support its use as an alternative additive to enhance the chemo-mechanical properties of aged bitumen, particularly in mixtures with high Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) content, among other applications. |
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| Keywords: |
Aged bitumen; Tyre pyrolytic oil; Asphalt rejuvenator; Rheological properties; Self-healing |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
The authors want to thank the financial support from the National Research and Development Agency (ANID) from Chile through the Research Project FONDEF IDeA 21I10127. Additionally, the first author wishes to thank the financial support given by the University of Bío-Bío for his internal PhD scholarship granted. |
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