Performance Testing of Asphalt Binder Modified with Amine-Impregnated Zeolite and Plastic in Hot Mix Asphalt to Reduce Carbon Footprint

Abstract:

The rise in global temperatures, driven in part by significant transportation carbon emissions, necessitate sustainable solutions for infrastructure. Traditional asphalt binders and lime additives significantly contribute to carbon emissions, and conventional liquid amine-based antistrip agents, which are used to reduce moisture damage, lose efficacy over time. This study evaluates the performance of PG 64-16 Low Carbon binder, incorporating 10% post-consumer plastic and amine-impregnated zeolite (AIMZ) as a protective carrier for liquid amines. Researchers compare this low-carbon binder to conventional PG 64-16 binder and evaluate AIMZ against amine and zeolite separately (AZ) and a commercial liquid antistrip (LAS). The study tests three aging levels (3, 5, and 7 days), simulating 4, 8, and 10 years, respectively, of field aging in Southern California. The evaluation of moisture-induced damage uses the Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR), while the Hamburg Wheel Tracking (HWT) test assesses rutting resistance (the wear from tires and loads that occurs on roads). The IDEAL Cracking Test measures cracking resistance,and the Moisture-Induced Shear-Thinning Index (MISTI) and Multiple-Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) tests analyze moisture susceptibility and rheological properties, all of which are important factors to consider in long-term efficacy. AIMZ demonstrated higher TSR values compared to those with AZ and LAS at both 5 days and 7 days of aging levels for both binders. Rutting resistance is comparable between binders, and low-carbon binder mixtures show improved cracking resistance over time. MISTI values suggest lower moisture susceptibility for the low-carbon binder, though MSCR results suggest it is best suited for low-traffic volumes. This study indicates that AIMZ effectively prolongs liquid amine efficacy and that low-carbon binders, despite some limitations, offer environmental and performance benefits. These findings support the potential for incorporating post-consumer plastics in asphalt pavements, promoting sustainability in infrastructure.

Publications:

Performance Testing of Asphalt Binder Modified with Amine-Impregnated Zeolite and Plastic in Hot Mix Asphalt to Reduce Carbon Footprint (Full Report)

Research Brief

Authors:

Shadi Saadeh, PhD
Dr. Shadi Saadeh joined the California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management Department in 2007. Dr Saadeh worked for the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) from 2003–2005 and the Louisiana TransportationResearch Center (LTRC) from 2006–2007. He received his BSc in civil engineering from University of Jordan (1997), MSc in Civil Engineering from Washington State University (2002), and PhD in Civil Engineering from Texas A & M University (2005). Dr. Saadeh’s research focuses on granular materials, including asphalt mixes and its constituents. His main areas of research are experimental characterization of highway materials, constitutive modeling of highway materials atthe microstructural level, performance evaluation of highway infrastructure, flexible pavementdesign and analysis, and experimental characterization of highway materials using X-ray computed tomography (CT), image analysis techniques, and mechanical testing. Dr. Saadeh has authored research papers in high-quality engineering and scientific journals such as Journal of Transportation Research Board (TRB), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Journal of the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE), Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT), and Journal of Computational Materials Science.

Unmona Aditi
Unmona Aditi is currently a Master’s student in Civil Engineering at CSULB with a specialization in transportation engineering. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Her research interests include flexible pavement materials.

Mohammad Javad Kazemi
Mohammad Javad Kazemi is a PhD student in Civil Engineering at Arizona State University.

Elham Fini, PhD
Dr. Ellie Fini is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University, an Invention Ambassador at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Fulbright Scholar of AalborgUniversity of Denmark, a Senior Sustainability Scientist at the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, and Director of the Innovation Network for Materials, Methods and Management. Her research focuses on the production, characterization and atomistic modelling of sustainable novel materials for use in construction. In addition to more than 200 scholarlypublications and numerous invited talks, her research has been featured by BBC Women in STEM, Science Nation, Wired Magazine, and CNBC. She is editor of the ASCE Journal of Materials and the Journal of Resources, Conservation & Recycling. She has served as the president of ASCE’s North Carolina Northern Branch and a program director of the National Science Foundation. Her achievements have been recognized via multiple awards including an NSF CAREER award, ASEE Gerald Seeley award, BEYA Emerald STEM Innovation award, NC BioTech Research Excellence award, and WTS Innovative Transportation Solution award, to name a few.

Roger Khoudessian
Roger Khoudessian is an Instructor at the Joint Training and Certification Program at CSULB.

Published:

April 2025

Keywords:

Asphalt Concrete Pavement

Moisture Damage

Antistrip Additives

Plastics

Sustainable development