Examination of the Properties of 70/100 Bitumen Modified with Activated Carbon

Abstract

The volatile organic compounds are dispersed from asphalt fume to air during the construction of the pavement. These volatile organic compounds negatively affect the environment and the health of workers. Activated carbon is utilized to enhance the properties of bitumen and mitigate the impact of volatile organic compounds. In this study, the impacts of commercial activated carbon on the physical properties’ of 70/100 bitumen were examined. 70/100 bitumen was modified for 1 hour at 2000 rpm and 150 ˚C with commercial activated carbon (0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4%) using a high-speed mixer. Conventional bitumen tests (penetration, softening point and rotational viscometer) were performed on bitumen modified with activated carbon. Penetration index of modified bitumen was calculated. The findings indicate that the incorporation of activated carbon into 70/100 bitumen results in a decline in penetration values of all modified bitumen, accompanied by an increase in softening point and viscometer values. The storage stability test was conducted to determine the separation that may occur in the bitumen-commercial activated carbon phase and to determine its storability at high temperatures in modified bitumen tankers. Since activated carbon, added to 70/100 bitumen has little effect on the physical properties of modified bitumen, it is thought that activated carbon ratios in bitumen modification should be increased.

Keywords

• : Activated carbon
• bitumen modification
• conventional bitumen tests
• storage stability

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