Waste Not, Want Not: Sustainable Use of Anti-Stripping-Treated Waste Ceramic in Superpave Asphalt Mixtures

Abstract

This research studied the sustainable utilization of waste ceramic in asphalt mixtures by substituting fine aggregate with treated and untreated waste ceramic produced from construction and demolition activities. To improve its adhesion to the asphalt binder and lower the moisture susceptibility of Superpave asphalt mixes, the waste ceramic was treated with a silane anti-stripping agent. The Marshall quotient (MQ), Marshall stability (MS), indirect tensile strength (ITS), retained Marshall stability (RMS), and tensile strength ratio (TSR) were used to assess the mechanical performance and moisture susceptibility of all mixes. The changes in the chemical composition, synergy, physical state, and microstructure of the studied composites were also investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that substituting fine aggregate with 50% silane-treated waste ceramics reduced permanent deformation by 46%. Moreover, integrating silane-treated ceramics reduced asphalt mixture moisture susceptibility, with an RMS value of 87.7% obtained for asphalt containing 75% treated ceramic particles. The application of a silane anti-stripping agent resulted in high adhesion between the ceramic particles and bitumen as well as the production of fewer air voids in the mixes due to the formation of strong CH aromatic linkages, as well as Si-O and Si-O-Si bonds. The possibility of employing waste ceramics in asphalt mixes as a sustainable alternative to virgin aggregates while decreasing environmental impacts and improving resource efficiency is highlighted in this paper.