Assessing the Influence of Digestion with Micro and Nano Size Additives on the Physical Properties of Asphalt Binder

The Asphalt binder usually practices ageing throughout its service life due to the environment. The asphalt binder will lose the required flexibility, cohesion, and its adhesion to the aggregates. Implication of Micro and Nano size additives can enhance the quality of the binder and extend its useful lifeless. In the present investigation, two types of asphalt binder with penetration grade (40-50 and 60-70) were digested with micro size additives (Fly ash, and hydrated lime) and Nano size additives (Fumed silica and silica fumes). The treated binders were subjected to physical properties determination. It was observed that for (60-70) and (40-50) binders, the penetration value declines by (69.7, 16.6, 50, and 44) % and (66, 22.7, 31.8 and 31.8) % after fly ash, hydrated lime, fumed silica, and silica fumes are implemented respectively. The softening point of (40-50) and (60-70) binders increase by (2, 2, 4, and 4) % and (6.2, 4.1, 8.3, and 8.3) % after implementation of fly ash, lime, fumed silica, and silica fumes respectively. It can be revealed that implementing the Nano size additives exhibits higher stiffness modulus for (40-50) binder when compared with that of (60-70) binder. However, Micro size additive (fly ash) exhibits the highest stiffness modulus among other additives regardless of the binder type