Mechanical performance of a warm-mix asphalt using sodium silicate-modified asphalt and recycled concrete aggregate
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2026.396224Keywords:
Warm-Mix Asphalt, WMA, Sodium Silicate, Hot-Mix Asphalt, HMA, Recycled Concrete Aggregate, RCAAbstract
The present study evaluated the mechanical performance of a warm-mix asphalt (WMA) by partially replacing the coarse fraction of natural aggregates (NA) with recycled concrete aggregates – RCA. To manufacture the WMA, a sodium silicate (SS) was used to modify and foam the asphalt cement (AC). SS is presented as a novel additive that has not been investigated by the technical and academic community. Based on penetration and softening point tests carried out on modified AC in different proportions (SS/AC=0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.50% by mass), a content of SS/AC=1% was defined as optimum. Viscosity tests, rheological characterization, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations were performed on the modified and unmodified AC. Marshall, Indirect Tensile Strength – ITS, resilient modulus, permanent deformation, fatigue, and Cantabro tests were carried out on the asphalt mixtures. The SS allows a 20°C reduction in the mixing temperature, generating WMA mixes that exhibit similar or even better performance compared to the Control HMA. The mixes with RCA exhibited higher resistance in the Marshall test and similar resistance to permanent deformation with respect to the Control mix, but lower resistance to indirect tension, raveling, fatigue and moisture damage.
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