Effects of the Combined Incorporation of ZnO and TiO2 Nanoparticles on the Mechanical, Rheological, Thermal, and Healing Properties of a Dense Polymeric Asphalt Mixture

Wolfart, Jaqueline; Staub de Melo, João Victor; Manfro, Alexandre Luiz; Barra, Breno Salgado; Barbosa, Rafael Cassimiro

doi:10.3390/nano15231779

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Effects of the Combined Incorporation of ZnO and TiO₂ Nanoparticles on the Mechanical, Rheological, Thermal, and Healing Properties of a Dense Polymeric Asphalt Mixture

by

Jaqueline Wolfart

,

João Victor Staub de Melo

^*

,

Alexandre Luiz Manfro

,

Breno Salgado Barra

and

Rafael Cassimiro Barbosa

Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Rua João Pio Duarte Silva, Florianópolis 88040-970, SC, Brazil

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(23), 1779; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231779

Submission received: 4 November 2025 / Revised: 23 November 2025 / Accepted: 24 November 2025 / Published: 26 November 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Nanocomposite Materials)

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Abstract

This study evaluated the combined incorporation of zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles into a styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) copolymer-modified asphalt binder, aiming to increase thermal conductivity and healing potential while maintaining rheological performance. Nanocomposites containing ZnO + TiO₂ (50/50 wt.%) were produced at dosages of 2–12 wt.% and subjected to the Rolling Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT), thermal conductivity measurements, viscosity testing, and rheological characterization. A dense-graded asphalt mixture with the optimized dosage was evaluated through wheel-tracking, four-point bending fatigue and healing, and internal heating rate assessment under microwave radiation. The integrated results indicated 8.5 wt.% as the optimal dosage, providing a 106.3% increase in thermal conductivity and improving the high-temperature performance grade (PGH) from 76-XX to 82-XX. Non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr) decreased by 21.1%, and viscosity at 135 °C increased by 41.8%, remaining below 3.0 Pa·s. In the asphalt mixture, healing capacity increased by 50.7%, and the internal heating rate by 50.0%, while the wheel-tracking rut depth decreased by 13.3%. These findings demonstrate that 8.5 wt.% ZnO + TiO₂ simultaneously enhances heat conduction, healing efficiency, and resistance to permanent deformation, offering a promising solution for pavements subjected to high temperatures and heavy traffic.

Keywords: zinc oxide; titanium dioxide; polymeric asphalt binder; nanoparticles; asphalt nanocomposites; asphalt mixtures; mechanical behavior; healing

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MDPI and ACS Style

Wolfart, J.; Staub de Melo, J.V.; Manfro, A.L.; Barra, B.S.; Barbosa, R.C. Effects of the Combined Incorporation of ZnO and TiO₂ Nanoparticles on the Mechanical, Rheological, Thermal, and Healing Properties of a Dense Polymeric Asphalt Mixture. Nanomaterials 2025, 15, 1779. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231779

AMA Style

Wolfart J, Staub de Melo JV, Manfro AL, Barra BS, Barbosa RC. Effects of the Combined Incorporation of ZnO and TiO₂ Nanoparticles on the Mechanical, Rheological, Thermal, and Healing Properties of a Dense Polymeric Asphalt Mixture. Nanomaterials. 2025; 15(23):1779. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231779

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wolfart, Jaqueline, João Victor Staub de Melo, Alexandre Luiz Manfro, Breno Salgado Barra, and Rafael Cassimiro Barbosa. 2025. "Effects of the Combined Incorporation of ZnO and TiO₂ Nanoparticles on the Mechanical, Rheological, Thermal, and Healing Properties of a Dense Polymeric Asphalt Mixture" Nanomaterials 15, no. 23: 1779. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231779

APA Style

Wolfart, J., Staub de Melo, J. V., Manfro, A. L., Barra, B. S., & Barbosa, R. C. (2025). Effects of the Combined Incorporation of ZnO and TiO₂ Nanoparticles on the Mechanical, Rheological, Thermal, and Healing Properties of a Dense Polymeric Asphalt Mixture. Nanomaterials, 15(23), 1779. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231779

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Effects of the Combined Incorporation of ZnO and TiO₂ Nanoparticles on the Mechanical, Rheological, Thermal, and Healing Properties of a Dense Polymeric Asphalt Mixture

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