Enhancement of Physical Properties of Asphalt Binder by Using Silica Powder

Civil Engineering Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq

^a* Corresponding author bce.20.23@grad.uotechnology.edu.iq
^b 40317@uotechnology.edu.iq
^c 40323@uotechnology.edu.iq

Abstract

One of the primary requirements for a successful pavement system can be regarded as the caliber of the road pavement. Therefore, various measures have been taken, such as improving pavement quality and structure design methods, to reduce the issues of fatigue cracks and rutting of roads. Since a few years ago, engineers have paid more attention to modifying and improving the performance of asphalt by adding various additives to improve the environment and lower the price of modified pavement mixture. Evaluation of employing modified asphalt cement at various percentages of particle size of silica powder is the main goal of this study. Three percentages of Particle Size of Silica Powder Nano silica and micro silica with 2, 4, and 6% of the weight of asphalt as a modifier for asphalt and their effect on the performance of asphalt mixtures at high temperatures. It was discovered that adding silica powder to asphalt cement would increase the softening point and viscosity and decrease ductility and penetration. Experimental results indicated that the Silica Powder positively contributed to the performance properties of asphalt.