Investigating the high-temperature performance and activation energy of carbon black-modified asphalt binder

This study set out to evaluate the influence of carbon black (CB) on the rheological properties and activation energy of asphalt binder at high service temperatures. The rheological performance of virgin and modified asphalt binders are investigated using three evaluation approaches: (1) Superpave specification parameter (G*/sinδ), (2) multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test, and (3) interaction model for computing zero shear viscosity (ZSV). Moreover, the Arrhenius model was used to quantify the activation energy (Ef) of virgin and CB-modified asphalt binders. The result of this study reveals that modifying asphalt binder with up to 10% of CB, by weight of the total asphalt binder, enhances the elastic behavior (R%) and decreases the non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr) of asphalt binder at high temperatures. Moreover, according to this study, the ZSV index can describe successfully rutting resistance of asphalt binder when compared with MSCR and Superpave rutting specification parameter. Besides, it was indicated that CB-modified asphalt binder has a high fluid resistance as more thermal energy was required for overcoming intermolecular force between molecules.