Investigation of Surface Micro-Mechanical Properties of Various Asphalt Binders Using AFM
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials
3. Methodology
3.1. Testing Method
3.1.1. Asphalt Binder Preparation in Different States
- (1)
- Aging. The asphalt binder was aged at 163 °C for 85 min using a rotating film oven, and then taken out for sample preparation.
- (2)
- Immersion in water. Put the prepared asphalt sample into a vessel filled with water, and the water level submerges the asphalt sample, soak it for 24 h, take it out, and let it dry for testing.
- (3)
- Anti-stripping agent. The asphalt was heated to 165 °C, an anti-stripping agent of 0.5% of the asphalt mass was added, and the samples were prepared after stirring uniformly.
3.1.2. Sample Preparation
- Step 1:
- Place the rectangular mica sheet (18 mm × 13 mm × 0.1 mm) on the slide and place the ring mold (10 mm outer diameter, 8 mm inner diameter) on the rectangular mica sheet.
- Step 2:
- Heat the asphalt binder 150–160 °C, naturally drop the liquid asphalt to the ring mold, and then put it into the 150–160 °C oven for 20 min to smooth the sample surface.
- Step 3:
- Remove the asphalt binder sample into airtight plastic trays for airtight storage.
3.1.3. Force Curve Test
- Step 1:
- Place the asphalt binder sample on the AFM carrier table, set the scan area and frequency, and conduct a sensitivity test for the probe.
- Step 2:
- In tapping mode, scan the surface micro-topography of the asphalt binder sample, and mark the peak, valley, and other flat areas of asphalt binder.
- Step 3:
- Switch to the contact mode to obtain the force curves of marked the peak, valley, and other flat areas.
3.2. Micro-Mechanical Properties
3.2.1. Surface Micromechanics Indicators
- (1)
- Elastic modulus E
- (2)
- Surface nanohardness H
3.2.2. Area-Weighted Average of Surface Micromechanics Indicators
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Influence of Asphalt Binder Type
4.2. Influence of Aging
4.3. Influence of Water
4.4. Influence of Anti-Stripping Agent
5. Conclusions
- (1)
- Micromechanical properties of asphalt binder were affected by grade, oil source and modification. Micromechanical properties decreased with the increase of asphalt grade (SK-90 < SK-70). The oil source has an effect on micromechanical properties of the asphalt binder (SK-70 < KL-70 < Shell-70). Micromechanical properties of the modified asphalt were better than those of unmodified (Shell-70 < modified-Shell).
- (2)
- The aging resistance of modified asphalt binder was better than that of unmodified. The aging behavior increased the elastic modulus and nanohardness of the unmodified asphalt binder by 20.01–22.28% and 35.66–38.04%, respectively, and increased that of the modified asphalt binder by 13.05% and 20.83%, respectively.
- (3)
- Water immersion reduces the micromechanical properties of asphalt binder. After being immersed in water, the elastic modulus of the five asphalt binders decreased by 4–6%, and the nanohardness decreased by 6–8%.
- (4)
- The effect of the anti-stripping agent on the modified asphalt binder is greater than that of the unmodified asphalt binder. After adding the anti-stripping agent, the elastic modulus and nanohardness of the unmodified asphalt binder decreased by 16.51–20.67% and 22.24–25.78%, respectively, and that of the modified asphalt binder decreased by 12.24% and 19.56%, respectively.
6. Suggestions for Further Research
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
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Asphalt | Penetration (0.1 mm) | Ductility (cm) | Softening Point (°C) | After RTFOT | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Penetration Ratio (%) | Ductility (cm) | Mass Loss (%) | ||||
SK-70 | 80 | 77.0 | 50.1 | 71.4 | 7.5 | −0.28 |
KL-70 | 69 | 84.5 | 46.1 | 67.4 | 7.5 | −0.31 |
Shell-70 | 78 | 42.5 | 50.1 | 62.5 | 7.4 | −0.50 |
SK-90 | 94 | 110.3 | 47.6 | 60.5 | 8.8 | −0.79 |
Modified-Shell | 72 | 78.5 | 77.1 | 83.8 | 26.3 | −0.48 |
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Hou, Y.; Chen, Y.; Zou, H.; Ji, X.; Shao, D.; Zhang, Z.; Chen, Y. Investigation of Surface Micro-Mechanical Properties of Various Asphalt Binders Using AFM. Materials 2022, 15, 4358. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15124358
Hou Y, Chen Y, Zou H, Ji X, Shao D, Zhang Z, Chen Y. Investigation of Surface Micro-Mechanical Properties of Various Asphalt Binders Using AFM. Materials. 2022; 15(12):4358. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15124358
Chicago/Turabian StyleHou, Yueqin, Yun Chen, Haiwei Zou, Xiaoping Ji, Dongye Shao, Zhengming Zhang, and Ye Chen. 2022. "Investigation of Surface Micro-Mechanical Properties of Various Asphalt Binders Using AFM" Materials 15, no. 12: 4358. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15124358