Mechanochemically Activated Shungite as an Additive to Improve Bitumen Characteristics

Abstract

One of the urgent problems of improving the quality of road surfaces is to improve the properties of bitumen used as binders. For this purpose, various modifiers are used, which are mainly obtained synthetically. Modification of bitumen with natural raw materials is favorable from an economic and environmental points of view. The modification of road oil bitumen with samples of shungite from the Koksu deposit (Kazakhstan) was carried out in the work. The shungite samples were previously crushed by mechanochemical activation to improve their surface and adhesive properties. As a result of modification with shungite, an increase in the softening temperature and a decrease in the extensibility and penetration of bitumen were observed. The optimal amount of added shungite turned out to be 1 mass %. The shungite of carbonate origin on a mineral basis is more favorable as a modifier compared to samples of shale origin.