Improvement of asphalt binder properties using nanoclay

In this study, the effect of the nanoclay additive on the performance features of the asphalt binder was assessed. Structural properties of the additive were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The morphological structure and mocification mechanism of modified asphalt binders formed by adding the additive to the asphalt were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyzes, respectively. In addition, the thermal properties of the additive and modified asphalt binders were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The physical and rheological properties of modified asphalt were measured using penetration, softening point, ductility, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT), rotational viscometer (RV) and pressure aging vessel (PAV). The results indicate that the additive increased the asphalt's consistence, rutting and short-term aging resistance and decreased fatigue resistance after long-term aging. It was indicated that the best additive ratio to enhance the performance features of asphalt binder according to the data obtained from the experiments was 8%.