Rheology of Asphalt Binders Modified with Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles

Rahaf Homssi, Ammar Abdalla, K. Lakshmi Roja, Reza Sadr*, Eyad Masad

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

The past decades have stood witness to nanotechnology's domination in countless fields of science and engineering. Nanotechnology has greatly contributed to major advances in developing and improving infrastructure materials. Nanoparticles have been used in asphalt production in order to improve the performance of asphalt pavements. This paper is focused on studying the effects of aluminum oxide nanoparticles on the rheological behavior of asphalt binders within the mixing and compaction temperature regime. The selection of aluminum oxide nanoparticles is motivated by their cost and high corrosion/wear resistance, which is beneficial for the asphalt industry. The rheological behavior of the asphalt binders was characterized using the rotational viscometer by measuring viscosity of a base unmodified asphalt (PG 64-22), and other modified asphalts incorporating 2%, 4%, and 6% of aluminum oxide nanoparticles. The results show that the use of these nanoparticles increased viscosity, and the rate of increase is higher at lower temperature (90oC) and lower shear rates. There is evidence of shear thinning with an increase in loading time at 90oC, while this behavior is not observed at higher temperatures of 135oC and 160oC. This shear thinning may be attributed to asphalt thixotropic behavior.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)495-503
Number of pages9
JournalProceedings of the Thermal and Fluids Engineering Summer Conference
Volume2022-May
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Externally publishedYes
Event7th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, TFEC 2022 - Las Vegas, United States
Duration: 15 May 202218 May 2022

Keywords

  • Aluminum oxide nanoparticles
  • asphalt
  • rheology
  • rotational viscometer

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