Evaluation of warm-recycled asphalt mixtures containing polyethylene wax-based WMA additive

Abstract

The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in the construction of new asphalt pavements is beneficial because it provides both cost savings and reduction of environmental effects. Recently, warm-mix asphalt (WMA) technology was applied to asphalt recycling at a lower than conventional temperature. As a result, warm-recycled asphalt possibly increases the usage of RAP material, saves energy and reduces CO2 emission. The main purposes of this study are to examine the influences of polyethylene wax-based WMA additive on the optimum asphalt content of warm-recycled asphalt mixture based on the Marshall mix design and to evaluate performance of warm-recycled asphalt mixture containing 30% RAP with polyethylene wax-based WMA additive in terms of the rutting and stripping resistances. Based on the limited laboratory test results, polyethylene wax-based WMA additive is effective to decrease mixing and compacting temperatures without compromising the volumetric characteristics of warm-recycled asphalt mixtures compared to hot-recycled asphalt mixture. Also, it doesn’t affect the optimum asphalt content on recycled-asphalt mixture. Overall, the performance of warm-recycled asphalt mixture using polyethylene wax-based WMA additive is comparable to hot-recycled asphalt mixture.