Performance Characteristics of Asphalt Binders containing Sodium-Alginate Hollow Fibers and Recycled Materials

Abstract

Self-healing products such as hollow-fibers filled with an asphalt rejuvenator present an emerging technology that would enhance an asphalt mixture’s resistance to cracking damage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rejuvenating efficiency of sodium-alginate fibers containing a rejuvenator product using asphalt binder blends containing extracted binder from recycled materials. The effects of adding extracted binder from recycled materials and sodium-alginate fibers on asphalt binder blends were evaluated by conducting a series of chemical and binder tests. HP-GPC and FTIR test results showed that the addition of fibers in blends containing recycled materials resulted in an increase in the HMW/LMW ratios. Some of the added polymeric fibers are thought to have increased the HMW fraction, thus leading to increase in the HMW/LMW ratio. The increase of the HMW fraction suggests that some of the fibers, which are polymers, caused the increase in the HMW/LMW ratios. MSCR test results showed that a binder blend with extracted binder from recycled materials and sodium-alginate fibers would have less rutting susceptibility than a conventional virgin binder would.