Hot Mix Asphalt of Low Environmental Impact for the Rehabilitation of Roads in Cuba

Abstract

In order to reduce the negative environmental impact caused by the production of hot mix asphalt and waste generation during road maintenance work, new process have been developed internationally. They are the warm mix asphalt, produced at lower temperatures than conventional and the recycled asphalt pavement, obtained by mixing with virgin material during milling resulting from rehabilitation activities. The research presented in this paper analyzes both alternatives, at the laboratory level, with the objective to evaluate its introduction in road maintenance in Cuba. For the warm mix asphalt was added a natural zeolite in different percentages in the form of sand and filler. For three mixtures recycled content of RAP and three mixing temperatures were evaluated. The mixes were given the Marshall tests, and their moistu-re sensitivity and stiffness modulus values were also obtained. The mixes were compared with a standard mix. This study demonstrated that the use of natural zeolite is an effective way of reducing the temperature of bituminous mixes, and adding 20 % similarity to the RAP with reference standard mixture.