A new generation of environmentally friendly two-component additives with foaming and anti-aging properties for application in bitumen: experimental and modeling approach

OPUS 27

Funding Organization: National Science Centre

Leader: Lublin University of Technology

Partner: Poznań University of Technology

Project title: A new generation of environmentally friendly two-component additives with foaming and anti-aging properties for application in bitumen: experimental and modeling approach

Agreement number: UMO-2024/53/B/ST8/03144

Project implementation period: 01.04.2025 – 31.03.2029

Principal Investigator: (Lublin University of Technology): prof. dr hab. inż. Wojciech Franus

Principal Co-investigator  (Poznań University of Technology): dr hab. inż. Łukasz Klapiszewski  

Project value: 2 660 307,00 PLN

Funds granted for Lublin University of Technology: 1 454 898,00 PLN

Funds granted for Poznań University of Technology: 1 205 409,00 PLN

Abstract: Approximately 90% of road pavements are asphalt mixtures. These are currently produced using hot mix asphalt, which requires heating the mineral aggregate and asphalt binder to high temperatures. This causes significant emissions of CO2 and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Current trends in road development under EU directives on greenhouse gas emissions are focused on decarbonising the production of asphalt mixtures. In response to these challenges, the project concerns the design of functional zeolite-organic composites composed of zeolite matrices and a diverse group of silanes, lignins and lignosulfonates. The hypothesis developed on the basis of the literature study is that the binary zeolite-organic composites will be able to be successfully used to foam asphalt binders  with simultaneous reduction the degree of ageing processes occurring in road bitumen. This dual effect will be made possible by the presence in the composites of organic components with different sulphur contents, which will inhibit the oxidation and aromatisation processes of the bitumen components, and zeolite matrices capable of sustained and controlled release of zeolite water. Within the framework of the project, zeolites of different structure types (Na-X, Na-P1,Na-A, Na-Y, ZSM-5, analcime, chabazite and sodalite) will be synthesised, to which organic compounds belonging to the silane and lignin groups will be attached by chemical methods. Such obtained composites will be investigated for physicochemical properties and synthesis mechanisms by XRF, elemental analysis, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, CP MAS NMR, AFM, DTA/TG, DSC, textural analysis, XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, NIBS, and laser diffraction. In the next step of the project, water-activated zeolite-organic composites will be used for the foaming process of asphalt binders. For this purpose, the expansion coefficient and half-life of the foaming process will be determined, followed by the physicochemical properties of the foamed road asphalts, i.e. penetration, softening point and viscosity at three temperatures. In terms of the foaming process, the release of water from the composites will also be analysed using DTA/TG and DSC. As part of the project, pioneering analyses of technological ageing (RTFOT), operational ageing (PAV) and UV ageing are planned. This phase will include structural analyses of bitumen binders by FTIR and PTR-TOC methods foamed with composites subjected to simulated ageing after previous fractionation of their components by TLC/FID analysis. The foamed bitumen will be extensively characterised for thermal properties by DSC before and after the foaming process. Synchrotron analyses will be instrumental in assessing the interactions between zeolite matrices and organic compounds occurring during their synthesis and the mechanisms of ageing of foamed asphalt binders, providing unique information on the structure of the developed zeolite-organic composites and the ageing mechanism of bitumen at the macroscopic level. In addition, the project will carry out analyses at the molecular level using molecular dynamics methods, which will make it possible to study the interactions between the individual compounds contained in the investigated bitumen and to determine the influence of these relationships on the properties of the foamed bitumen. This interdisciplinary project is part of the field of engineering sciences and includes basic research related to the design and preparation of materials with well-defined properties for future use in the production of road pavements. The results obtained will contribute to completing the missing knowledge on the influence of the addition of zeolite-silane composites, zeolite-lignin and/or its derivatives on the ageing and foaming of bitumen binders. The positive results obtained during this project may be a new research trend in the design of innovative mineral-organic additives used in the production of asphalt mixtures.