A review of conductive additives for enhancing the electrical properties of self-sensing asphalt

Abstract

Asphalt is traditionally an insulator to the flow of electric current, but it can be transformed into a self-sensing conductive material by incorporating recyclable and environmentally friendly additives. These additives offer a range of smart and sustainable applications in the pavement industry. However, there is still much to be learned about the production and performance behavior of conductive asphalt. This study presents a comprehensive review of the literature on conductive additives used in asphalt to provide a holistic understanding of the current state of research in this field. The objective of the study is to critically review and characterize conductive additives used in asphalt to achieve electric conductivity in it and resultingly explore its self-sensing features. The development of conductive asphalt has significant research potential, and improving its piezoresistivity and conductive network is the focus of future smart asphalt technology research. The review provides an in-depth understanding of conductive asphalt concrete and identifies current research themes and corresponding challenges. This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers and industry professionals working in the field of conductive asphalt.