Studying the Effect of Syrian Natural Zeolite on Properties of Asphalt Binder

  • 10 May 2022
  • Recently published Research - Civil Engineering and Building Materials

Researchers

Mahmoud Ali Abdullh, Fayez Suleiman, Bassem Ali, and Adel Dib

Published in

Association of Arab Universities Journal of Engineering Sciences, volume 28, issue 1, March 2021.

 


Abstract

In the last years, many researchers studied production of warm asphalt concrete by using organic, chemical and water-bearing additive) synthetic zeolite). The purpose of this research is to study the effect of Syrian natural zeolite on the physical and rheological properties of asphalt binder and verify of using it to produce warm asphalt concrete (as a binder modifier or as additive to asphalt concrete), in addition to economic benefits by saving on the cost of synthetic zeolite. In this study, natural zeolite characterization has been investigated via X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Thermal Gravimetric analysis (TGA). Natural zeolite was added to asphalt binder with different percentages (3, 4, 5 and 6%) by weight and to determine the effect of natural zeolite on properties of asphalt binder, penetration at ∁°(25), softening point, ductility, viscosity at (110, 120, 135) ∁° and RTOFT tests were carried out on both modified and unmodified aged asphalt binder with natural zeolite. According to the test results, it has been seen that the addition of natural zeolite improves properties of the asphalt binder and an increase in its resistance to fatigue, and do not make a substantial difference on the workability of the asphalt binder. So the effect of the mixture of natural zeolite additives on the workability could not be predicted on asphalt binder, therefore the direct effect of additives should be studied on the asphalt mixtures.

Keywords: Natural Zeolite, Synthetic Zeolite, Asphalt binder, Short term aging.

Link to Read Full Paper

https://doi.org/10.33261/jaaru.2021.28.1.006