Improving Local Asphalt Pavement with Nano-CaCO₃

Civil Engineering Department, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq

^a* Corresponding author st.ahmed.mahir@ced.nahrainuniv.edu.iq
^b alaa.abed@eng.nahrainuniv.edu.iq

Abstract

During the last two decades, a significant increase in the number of vehicles in Baghdad city related to uncontrolled axle loading, hot climate summer, lack of asphalt pavement maintenance, and heavy traffic has combined and led to severe consequences in the paved road. Therefore, asphalt cement enhancement and improvement is the first key to solving and correcting these issues. Recently, nanomaterial has gained considerable recognition in asphalt technology as the new modifier due to the homogeneity, dispersion, and large surface area in contact with asphalt particles. This paper investigates the effect of adding nano CaCO₃ into asphalt cement. The laboratory experiment included 40-50 penetration grades prepared with different content 1, 3,5, and 7% to quantify the potential benefit of a physical test of Asphalt, Marshall properties, and tensile strength of hot mix asphalt. The testing result indicated that nano-CaCO₃ modified asphalt with a 5% improved penetration grade and softening point. On the other hand, Marshall Stability increased to 14.38 kN. Furthermore, tensile strength increased to 1121 KPa due to the stuffing effect, increased adhesion that increased the resistance of asphalt mixture towards permanent deformation during the hot summer climate in Iraq.