Evaluation of the Properties of Asphalt Mixes Modified with Diatomite and Lignin Fiber: A Review

Abstract

Due to rapid growth of traffic density, the phenomenon of overloading on high-grade highways causes various modes of distresses to the pavement such as rutting, thermal cracking, and water damage. Modification of asphalt mixes is the most common solution to improve the performance of asphalt pavement to mitigate its damages. This paper provides a review on the influence of diatomite or lignin fiber as a modifier in asphalt mixes. In order to assess the effectiveness of selected additives on asphalt mix performance, several tests, such as wheel tracking, indirect tensile, three points bending, freeze thaw splitting, and marshall immersion, were reviewed. The review indicated that the addition of diatomite increases the high temperature rutting resistance of asphalt mixes, but some researchers observed that it has a little improvement on the low temperature performance of asphalt mixes and the optimum amount of diatomite at 12–14% of asphalt binder can be added into the mix. In contrast, lignin fiber has a significant effect on the low temperature cracking resistance of asphalt mixes; however, its influence on the high temperature rutting resistance of asphalt mix is limited, and the optimum amount of lignin fiber is 0.2–0.4% per asphalt mix composition. The review also indicated that the single additives haven’t the ability to enhance the overall performance of asphalt mix. Consequently, the utilization of double additives can improve the overall performance of asphalt mixes at the same time, but it is still in an early stage in the application of highway engineering due to all previous researches concentrated on the single modification. Moreover, this review suggests that the future use of diatomite and lignin fiber compound modified asphalt mix can improve the overall mix performance.