Using Warm-Mix Asphalt Technology to Incorporate High Percentage of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Material in Asphalt Mixtures

Abstract

The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) helps save natural resources and money. The percentage of RAP that can be utilized successfully in hot-mix recycling is primarily dictated by practical considerations. To avoid deterioration of the aged binder, RAP should not be exposed to relatively high temperatures. This study investigated the feasibility of using a warm-mix asphalt (WMA) additive, Sasobit H8, in successfully recycling hot-mix asphalt (HMA) with 75% RAP at a lower temperature. A control HMA was prepared with extracted aggregates and PG (performance grade) 64-28 binder at 150°C. Another HMA was produced with PG 52-28 binder at 135°C. Two WMA mixes were prepared with Sasobit H8 at 125°C, one with PG 52-28 and the other with PG 42-42 binder. Samples with design asphalt content were compacted by using 75 gyrations of the Superpave gyratory compactor. Their voids, tensile strength at −10°C, rutting potential at 60°C, and moduli at 0°C, 25°C, and 40°C (at different times) were determined and compared. The moduli samples were subjected to 60°C in between the tests. The results show that it is possible to produce mixes with 75% RAP with similar air voids as virgin mixes at lower than conventional temperatures using 1.5% Sasobit. The addition of a significantly lower grade of binder, PG 42-42, at a rate of 1.5% by weight of mix produced a mix that is most comparable with a virgin mix.