Performance Evaluation of Using Waste Toner in Bituminous Material by Focusing on Aging and Moisture Susceptibility

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of waste toner as a cost-effective enhancement modifier on short-term aging and moisture resistance of asphalt binders and mixtures. Moreover, the mechanism of asphalt binder aging and moisture resistance was reviewed, aiming to provide promising evaluation methods for assessing short-term aging resistance of asphalt binders as well as moisture resistance of asphalt binders and mixtures. First, the aging resistance of neat and toner-modified asphalt (TMA) binders was evaluated using three approaches: rheological aging index (RAI), viscosity aging index (VAI), and chemical functional group indices based on data obtained from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. To measure viscoelastic and viscosity characteristics of neat and TMA binders, a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and a viscometer were employed, respectively. Second, the moisture resistance of asphalt binders and mixtures were investigated based on analyzing the infrared spectrum and tensile strength ratio (TSR), respectively. The findings indicated that modifying binder with low percentages of waste toner enhanced the short-term aging resistance. Also, TMA binders containing 12% of waste toner presented a significant improvement in moisture resistance of asphalt binders and mixtures.