Microstructure and Performance Analysis of Nanomaterials Modified Asphalt

Nanomaterials have been generally applied in all fields all over the world, because of their distinctive physical and chemical characteristics. In order to improve the properties of asphalt and asphalt mixtures, the selection of nanometer materials for modifying the base asphalt was processed. Furthermore, a series of asphalt experiments were performed to analyze the basic performance of these asphalt with varying nanometer material contents. The tests included penetration, ductility, softening point, viscosity and atomic force microscope (AFM). Property comparison between modified asphalt and base asphalt was undertaken. Additionally, AFM images of modified asphalt at the optimum nanomaterials content were presented, which indicated that 2% carbon nano powders modified asphalt has an excellent uniformity structure in the base asphalt compared with microstructures of the other nanomaterials modified asphalt. Besides, mechanical performance tests of asphalt mixtures were carried out, and showed that the properties of nanomaterial modified asphalt were superior to those of the base asphalt.