Ultraviolet aging study on bitumen modified by a composite of clay and fumed silica nanoparticles

Abstract

In this study, surface morphology, rheological and chemical properties were investigated of bitumen, which was modified by a composite of clay and fumed silica nanoparticles, and exposed to ultraviolet (UV) aging in laboratory. The volume fraction of the nanoparticles within the binder ranged from 1 to 3%, the temperature range considered was 30 to 70 °C. Surface morphology, rheological and chemical binder properties were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. It was found, that the bitumen modification through clay and fumed silica nanoparticles changed resulting binder properties significantly. The index of carbonyl and oxidation degree decreased, and the clay and fumed silica nanoparticles improved aging resistance to ultraviolet (UV) radiation considerably. The results indicate that the mechanical stability of the modified bitumen is very much driven by the specific concentration of clay and fumed silica nanoparticles.

Nanotechnology in Enhanced Oil Recovery

“…Nanotechnology is defined as a new technology for making applicable matters, systems and devices using nanosized materials, as well as new phenomena and properties at the nanoscale (1-100 nanometers) [1]. Adding certain Nanoparticles (NPs) to injection solutions can significantly benefit enhanced oil recovery (EOR), with advantages such as wettability alternation, changes in fluid properties, improving the trapped oil mobility, enhancing the consolidation of sands and decreasing the interfacial tension (IFT) [2,3].…”

Effect of Fumed Silica Nanoparticles on Ultraviolet Aging Resistance of Bitumen

“…Some researchers investigated different nanomaterials in their capacity to improve bitumen aging resistance to UV radiation, such as titanium dioxide [15], graphene oxide [16], montmorillonite [17], and zinc oxide [7] (see Table 1). As for titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO), it was found that a photocatalytic process under sunlight may destroy the structure of binder composites with these NPs [18][19][20][21].…”

“…As for thermal aging, bitumen molecules react with oxygen molecules, and hence, bitumen changes its molecular structure. As regards ultraviolet aging, bitumen partially absorbs ultraviolet light originating from sun radiation, and consequently, its molecular structure and chemical bonds change [ 5 ]. In most laboratory studies on bitumen aging, the effect of UV light is ignored [ 6 ].…”

Rheological Properties of Graphene/Polyethylene Composite Modified Asphalt Binder

“…As a novel asphalt modifier, nanomaterials have attracted a lot of attention from pavement researchers. Research results have shown that specific nanomaterials such as nano-clay [ 17 ], nano-TiO2 [ 18 ], nano-SiO2 [ 19 ], carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [ 20 ], graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) [ 21 ], and graphene oxide (GO) [ 22 ], can greatly improve the mechanical properties, aging resistance, fatigue resistance, and adhesion properties of asphalt binders. Although the above-mentioned nanomaterials improved some properties of asphalt binders, the improvement varied.…”