TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of nanomodifiers on rheological, chemical, and microstructural properties of asphalt mastics
AU - Matarneh, Sandra
AU - Louzi, Nawal
AU - Asi, Ibrahim
AU - Abdel-Jaber, Mu'tasim
AU - Masad, Eyad
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s)
PY - 2025/6/12
Y1 - 2025/6/12
N2 - This research examines the impact of three nano-modifiers/fillers—Nano Hydrated Lime (NHL), Nano Clay (NC), and Nano Olive Husk (NOH) on the rheological, chemical, and microstructural characteristics of asphalt mastic in both unaged and short-term aged (RTFO-aged) conditions. The results indicated that NOH increased penetration and markedly lowered the softening point by 30 %. Rheological evaluations conducted using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and a rotating viscometer (RV) indicated that NHL and NC increased binder stiffness by up to 35 %, with NC exhibiting the most significant enhancement in high-temperature performance. Conversely, increasing the dosage of NOH had a negligible impact on G* and δ values at the high temperature of 64 °C, indicating the least high-temperature performance. The analysis of chemical functional groups using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy demonstrated that NHL mastic had the most resistance to oxidation, reduced the carbonyl index by 25 %, while NC exhibited the most aging. This was attributed to the NHL's ability to absorb reactive groups from the asphalt binder more than the other two fillers. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to assess nanomechanical stiffness (i.e. DMT modulus) of unaged and aged asphalt mastics. Up to 3 % filler, NHL showed higher nano stiffness than NC. The effect of NHL on stiffness at the nano scale (AFM measurements) was more pronounced than at the bulk scale (DSR measurements), primarily because the physico-chemical interactions of NHL with binder are not manifested in bulk diluted filler systems with low filler concentration. The research highlights the need to optimize filler concentrations to achieve the required rheological properties and ageing resistance using various rheological, chemical, and microstructural tests. These results provide significant insights into developing sustainable, high-performance asphalt mixes to meet performance requirements.
AB - This research examines the impact of three nano-modifiers/fillers—Nano Hydrated Lime (NHL), Nano Clay (NC), and Nano Olive Husk (NOH) on the rheological, chemical, and microstructural characteristics of asphalt mastic in both unaged and short-term aged (RTFO-aged) conditions. The results indicated that NOH increased penetration and markedly lowered the softening point by 30 %. Rheological evaluations conducted using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and a rotating viscometer (RV) indicated that NHL and NC increased binder stiffness by up to 35 %, with NC exhibiting the most significant enhancement in high-temperature performance. Conversely, increasing the dosage of NOH had a negligible impact on G* and δ values at the high temperature of 64 °C, indicating the least high-temperature performance. The analysis of chemical functional groups using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy demonstrated that NHL mastic had the most resistance to oxidation, reduced the carbonyl index by 25 %, while NC exhibited the most aging. This was attributed to the NHL's ability to absorb reactive groups from the asphalt binder more than the other two fillers. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to assess nanomechanical stiffness (i.e. DMT modulus) of unaged and aged asphalt mastics. Up to 3 % filler, NHL showed higher nano stiffness than NC. The effect of NHL on stiffness at the nano scale (AFM measurements) was more pronounced than at the bulk scale (DSR measurements), primarily because the physico-chemical interactions of NHL with binder are not manifested in bulk diluted filler systems with low filler concentration. The research highlights the need to optimize filler concentrations to achieve the required rheological properties and ageing resistance using various rheological, chemical, and microstructural tests. These results provide significant insights into developing sustainable, high-performance asphalt mixes to meet performance requirements.
KW - Microstructural properties
KW - Nc
KW - Nhl
KW - Noh
KW - Rheological properties
KW - Short-term ageing (RTFO)
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105008010951
U2 - 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.105750
DO - 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.105750
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105008010951
SN - 2590-1230
VL - 27
JO - Results in Engineering
JF - Results in Engineering
M1 - 105750
ER -