Petroleum Science and Technology

ISSN: 1091-6466 (Print) 1532-2459 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/lpet20

Effect of nanoclay on performance of neat and

SBS-modified bitumen and HMA

Mahmoud Ameri, Mostafa Vamegh, Reza Imaninasab & Hamed Rooholamini

To cite this article: Mahmoud Ameri, Mostafa Vamegh, Reza Imaninasab & Hamed
Rooholamini (2016) Effect of nanoclay on performance of neat and SBS-modified
bitumen and HMA, Petroleum Science and Technology, 34:11-12, 1091-1097, DOI:
10.1080/10916466.2016.1163394

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2016.1163394

Published online: 12 Jul 2016.

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 PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
, VOL. , NOS. –, –
http://dx.doi.org/./..

Effect of nanoclay on performance of neat and SBS-modified

bitumen and HMA
Mahmoud Ameria , Mostafa Vamegha , Reza Imaninasaba , and Hamed Rooholaminib
a
School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran; b Civil and Environmental
Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT KEYWORDS
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The aim of this research was to investigate impact of nanoclay on rutting and Moisture susceptibility;
moisture damages resistance of neat and SBS-modified asphalt binder and nanoclay; repeated creep and
mixture. 4% SBS was blended with 2% nanoclay and 6% nanoclay was used recovery; rutting resistance;
styrene-butadiene-styrene
and compared with neat and 4% SBS-modified asphalt binder and mixes.
Results of performing rotational viscosity, dynamic shear rheometer, repeated
creep recovery, indirect tensile strength, and dynamic creep tests indicated
nanoclay has positive impact on rutting and moisture damages resistance of
neat and modified asphalt binder.

1. Introduction
One of the most common distresses of flexible pavements is permanent deformation along wheel path,
which is called rutting (Huber, 1999). Moisture damages is another type of distress that accelerates other
types of distresses. Modified asphalt binder by additive is an effective way to enhance moisture suscep-
tibility and rutting resistance of asphalt mixtures at high temperature, which, consequently, contributes
to rut depth reduction of pavement system (Xiao et al., 2010).
In the recent years, nanomaterials application into asphalt binder in order to modify its rheological
properties is becoming widespread. Types of nanomaterials that have been successfully used for asphalt
binder modification include (a) nanoclay, which is mostly montmorillonite; (b) nanocarbon including
nanocarbon tubes, nanocarbon fibers, and carbon nanoparticles; (c) Aerosol 200 nanoparticles; and (d)
Zycosoil and Zycotherm antistripper.
This study is to evaluate effect of nanoclay and its combination with styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)
on rutting performance of asphalt binder as well as asphalt mixture. Moreover, moisture susceptibility
of modified asphalt mixes were investigated. Rotational viscosity, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and
repeated creep and recovery (RCR) tests were employed for rheological properties assessment of mod-
ified asphalt binders and dynamic creep and indirect tensile strength (ITS) tests were used for rutting
performance and moisture susceptibility of modified asphalt mixtures. Furthermore, storage stability
was examined for storage and pumping efficiency of nanoclay-modified asphalt binder.

2. Materials and mix design

2.1. Aggregate and bitumen

Aggregates used in this study were limestone mineral aggregates. Particle size distribution of aggregates
with nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) of 19 mm and their physical properties are presented in

CONTACT Mostafa Vamegh mostafavamegh@civileng.iust.ac.ir School of Civil Engineering, Iran University of Science and
Technology, Tehran,  Iran.
Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/lpet.
©  Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
 1092 M. AMERI ET AL.

Table . Aggregate properties and gradation.

Property

Bulk specific gravity (ASTM C), g/cm .

Absorption fine aggregate (ASTM C), % .
Absorption coarse aggregate (ASTM C), % .
Los Angeles abrasion loss (AASHTO T), % .
Two fractured faces (ASTM D), % /
Gradation

Sieve size, mm Passing %

 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
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Table 1. The selected gradation falls within the upper and lower limits of No.4 gradation of Iran Highway
Asphalt Paving Code. Moreover, used asphalt binder is PG 58-22.

2.2. Additives
Aluminum silicates are types of clay that have layer structure containing SiO4 and AlO6 with various
configuration to form a layer. SiO4 to AlO6 ratio of 2:1 is yields a mineral clay for which the most com-
mon type is montmorillonite. Its structure is given in Figure 1. Cloisite is a natural montmorillonite,
which is modified with a quaternary ammonium salt. It is used to improve physical properties of plastics
and rubbers. The thickness of the montmorillonite layers (platelets) is 1 nm and aspect ratios are high,
typically 100–1500. As contact surface of nanoclay is extremely high, blending it with bitumen results in
greater interaction between nanoclay and bitumen (Jahromi and Khodaii, 2009).
The nanoclay used in this research is Cloisite 15 A, which is a 2M2HT organic modifier. Its concen-
tration is 125 meq/100 g clay with 1.66 g/cc density and d001 equal to 31.5 Å obtained from X-ray results.
One of the most important characteristics of montmorillonite, which has profound effect on its perfor-
mance, is the cation exchange capacity. It is defined as the amount of cations between the surfaces. It
normally ranges from 80 to 120 mEq/100 g (Lan et al., 1995).
In this study, SBS was also utilized in order to examine its effect on rutting performance and rheo-
logical properties when combined with nanoclay. Furthermore, comparison with SBS-modified samples
revealed how influential nanoclay is with this regard.

Figure . Montmorillonite structure. Reprinted from Construction and Building Materials, (), S. G. Jahromi and Ali Khodaii, Effects of
nanoclay on rheological properties of bitumen binder, –, Copyright , with permission from Elsevier.
 PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1093
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Figure . SEM micrographs of nanoclay dispersion.

3. Experimental

3.1. Modified bitumen preparation

To blend modified asphalt binders, after base binder had been heated up to 170°C in a small container,
SBS at concentration of 4% of the weight of the base asphalt was gradually added into the heated asphalt
binder while high shear mixer was rotating at the rate of 6000 rpm. In order to obtain homogeneous
asphalt cement, the blending process was maintained at least for 1 h.
Nanoparticle was dispersed in neat asphalt binder at concentrations of 6% (N). This dosage has been
found to be effective and used in several researches (Jahromi and Khodaii, 2009; Golestani et al., 2015).
2% nanoclay was also blended with 4% SBS-modified bitumen (NSBS). For nanoclay, blending process
was implemented using Ultrasonic mixer at the fixed power of 65 watt for 20 min at 150°C. Scanning
electron microscope (SEM) was used to capture image of the dispersion of nanoclay in asphalt binder.
As shown in Figure 2, it is homogeneously distributed without agglomeration.

3.2. Mix design and asphalt specimens preparation

Marshall mix design procedure was conducted to determine optimal binder content (OBC) of different
mix types. 4.9%, 5.6%, 4.9%, and 5.4% were OBC of control, N, SBS, and NSBS mixes. There is OBC
increase with nanoclay introduction while SBS does not change it. After determining OBC, a Superpave
gyratory compactor (SGC) was used to fabricate cylindrical specimens that would undergo dynamic
creep and ITS tests. SGC is believed to better simulate field rollers (Imaninasab et al., 2016).

4. Results and discussion

4.1. Storage stability

Decomposition of modifier and asphalt binder occurs at storage and pumping stages and during pave-
ment life. Storage stability test is determined by measuring softening points of upper and lower part of
 1094 M. AMERI ET AL.

Table . Storage stability.

Softening point
Mix type Upper part Lower part Difference

N . . .

SBS . . .
NSBS . . .

1600

1400

1200
Viscosity (MPa.s)

1000

800

600
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400

200

0
AC N SBS NSBS
Mix Type

Figure . Rotational viscosity.

a cylindrical container that is divided into three equal parts. The difference of softening points of upper
and lower parts is limited to 2.5°C in order to be consider thermally stable (AASHTO-PP5; AASHTO,
1993). As presented in Table 2, nanoclay improves thermal stability of SBS and decreases it to a value
near the limitation while nanoclay satisfies it.

4.2. Rotational viscosity

This test was performed in accordance with (AASHTO TP 48; AASHTO, 2000) to determine viscosity of
modified and unmodified asphalt cement at 135°C. As shown in Figure 3, viscosity increases as a result of
nanoclay application, however, its increase is not as high as SBS. 6% nanoclay has greater viscosity than
4% SBS. Combination of SBS and nanoclay results in the highest viscosity; however, all have viscosity
less than 3 MPa.sec, so there is no pumping difficulties with this regard.

4.3. Dynamic shear rheometer

This test was conducted at temperature range of 30–80°C to obtain rutting parameter of asphalt binder
(G∗ /Sin δ) with temperature changes. As shown in Figure 4, nanoclay increase rutting parameter with
average of 127% at different temperatures. Moreover, Figure 4 indicates that nanoclay has positive impact
on rutting performance of SBS-modified asphalt binder. Impact of SBS on rutting improvement is also
significantly greater than nanoclay.

4.3. Repeated creep and recovery

The test was carried out at temperature 60°C within 100 s. At each cycle, 300 kPa was applied for 1 s fol-
lowed by 9 s rest period. Being the behavior of asphalt binder linear viscoelastic, which can be observed
from constant slope of cumulative strain versus time obtained from RCR, some researchers (Delgadillo
et al., 2004) took the slope of the curve (γ ) as a better indicator of high temperature behavior of asphalt
binder. The greater the slope is, the more viscous the asphalt binder is and, consequently, the more sus-
ceptible it is to rutting at high temperature. As indicated in Figure 5, although nanoclay improves rutting
 PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1095

resistance of asphalt binder, its enhancement is not as significant as SBS. On the other hand, nanoclay
has positive impact on SBS-modified asphalt binder with respect to rutting properties.

4.4. Indirect tensile strength

The ITS test is most frequently used for providing information on moisture sensitivity of HMA mixture
since the presence of water often results in premature failure of pavements. It may also help to predict
cracking potential, rutting, and fatigue life (Roberts, 1996). The ITS in dry and wet condition and their
ratio, TSR, were used as ameasure of moisture sensitivity for modified asphalt mixtures.
As shown in Figure 6a, there is increase in dry and wet ITS with nanoclay. SBS-modified asphalt
mixture has greater dry and wet ITS than mixtures containing nanoclay. Furthermore, nanoclay has no
significant effct on SBS-modified asphalt regarding ITS. In addition, Figure 6b indicates that nanoclay has
positive influence in moisture susceptibility. nanoclay results in the greatest resitance againts moisture
damages. SBS and combination of SBS and nanoclay lead to approximately the same enhancement in
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moisture susceptibility suggesting nanoclay has no effect on SBS-modified asphalt with this respect.

10000000
AC
N
1000000
SBS
NSBS
100000
G* / SIN Δ

10000

1000

100
30 40 50 60 70 80
Temperature (˚C)

Figure . DSR test.

4
AC y = 0.036x - 0.1046
3.5 R² = 0.9983
N
3
SBS
2.5

2 NSBS
y = 0.0157x - 0.0395
1.5 R² = 0.998
y = 0.0126x - 0.0234
1 R² = 0.9976
y = 0.0078x - 0.0095
0.5 R² = 0.9966

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Time (s)

Figure . RCR test.

 1096 M. AMERI ET AL.

12 1.00

10 0.80
8
0.60
ITS (KN)

Dry
Dry
Wet

Wet

TSR
Dry
Wet
0.40
Dry
4 Wet

2 0.20

0 0.00
AC N SBS NSBS AC N SBS NSBS
Mix type Mix type

(a) (b)
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Figure . Moisture susceptibility: (a) ITS test, (b) TSR.

3000

2500

2000
Flow Number

1500

1000

500

0
AC N SBS NSBS
Mix type

Figure . Dynamic creep test.

4.5. Dynamic creep test

Wheel track, resilient modulus, ITS, and static and dynamic creep tests are used to evaluate rutting resis-
tance of asphalt mixes. Among them, the dynamic creep test is reported to have good correlation with
field rut depth and flow number (FN) that is obtained from the dynamic creep test (Imaninasab et al.,
2016). In this research dynamic creep test at stress level of 450 kPa was performed on cylindrical samples
according to Australian code, AS-2891.12.1, at 50°C.
As shown in Figure 7, there is improvement in rutting resistance with nanoclay increases, which indi-
cates greater elastic property of asphalt binder as a result of nanoclay introduction to it. In addition, SBS
and nanoclay has approximately the same effect on resistance against permanent deformation of asphalt
mixes and adding nanoclay into NSBS also resulted in FN increase.

5. Conclusion
Main findings of the obtained results are as following:
• Nanoclay improves thermal stability of SBS-modified asphalt binder.
• Not only does nanoclay increase viscosity and OBC of neat asphalt binder, but it also increases those
of SBS-modified asphalt binder.
• Rutting resistance improvement of both nanoclay and SBS-modified are the same with respect to
asphalt mixes used and introduction of nanoclay into SBS-modified asphalt binder increases rutting
resistance.
 PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1097

• Although nanoclay improves recoverability of asphalt binder, its impact is not as high as SBS. Nan-
oclay also enhances elastic property of SBS-modified asphalt binder.
• Nanoclay enhances moisture susceptibility of asphalt mixes greater than SBS and its application in
SBS-modified asphalt binder has negligible effect on moisture damages resistance.

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