Novel zeolite-oxide additives for use in the production of asphalt mixtures with increased resistance to environmental factors

Project title: Novel zeolite-oxide additives for use in the production of asphalt mixtures with increased resistance to environmental factors

Agreement number: INNOGLOBO/I/95/NZeolOx/2022

Program name: INNOGLOBO

Project implementation period: 01.10.2022-30.09.2025

Project value: 1 008 273,79 PLN

Funds granted for Lublin University of Technology: 705 675,00 PLN

Principal Investigator: dr Szymon Malinowski

Abstract: The project fully meets the research work carried out within the discipline of Civil Engineering and Transport at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture of Lublin University of Technology. It concerns the development of a technology for the production of asphalt mixtures resistant to harmful effects of environmental factors. The result of the project will be the development of a technology using modern bifunctional zeolite-oxide additives, which action covers two planes: (I) nanoparticles of metal oxides will reduce/inhibit aging processes of asphalt binders, and (II) the system of channels and chambers present in zeolite matrices will enable the production of asphalt mixtures at reduced compaction temperatures. The project involves 5 research tasks including synthesis and characterization of fly ash zeolites and their modification with nanoparticles of three metal oxides (ZnO, CuO, TiO2), application of the obtained bifunctional additives for bitumen foaming, application of the obtained bifunctional additives for foaming of asphalt binders, evaluation of their effect on cohesion, adhesion to selected mineral aggregates and fatigue life of modified bitumens, study of short-term and long-term aging of asphalt binders modified with bifunctional additives and study of physical and mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures using these additives. Firstly, zeolite matrices with different types of structure will be obtained and studied using phase, chemical and structural analysis. These matrices will be used to synthesize novel bifunctional additives by introducing nanoparticles of three different oxides, i.e. ZnO, CuO and TiO2, into their structure. The obtained bifunctional additives will be used to modify a commercially available 35/50 type asphalt binder, and the modified asphalt binders will be characterized in terms of the degree of penetration in accordance with EN 1426, softening point in accordance with EN 1427, and dynamic viscosity in accordance with EN 13302. In the next step, the possibilities of using the obtained bifunctional additives for bitumen foaming will be investigated. Then, for the obtained modified asphalt binders, the work of cohesion and adhesion to selected mineral aggregates will be determined. In addition, the affinity of the modified bitumens to mineral aggregates will be tested using the bottle method in accordance with PN-EN 12697-11, as well as their fatigue life using the linear amplitude sweep test in accordance with AASHTO TP 101-14 in a dynamic shear rheometer. In the next step of the project, short-term aging (RTFOT) and long-term aging (RTFOT+PAV) of modified bitumens will be studied. This evaluation will be carried out quantitatively on the basis of aging indicators, i.e. VAI, PPR, SPI as well as structural analyses by AFM (Atomic Force Microscope) and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy). Then, asphalt mixtures will be designed using modified bitumens and their physical and mechanical properties will be tested, i.e. maximum density according to PN-EN 12697-5, water and frost resistance according to PN-EN 12697-12, stiffness according to PN-EN 12967-26 at three temperatures of 23oC, 10oC and -2oC, fatigue life according to PN-EN 12697-24 and resistance to permanent deformation according to PN-EN 12697-22.