Graphene-Enhanced Recycled Asphalt Pavements

Abstract

100% Italian innovation: a new graphene-enhanced super-modifier (GESM) developed by Iterchimica Srl. In November 2017, the three-year-long research ended with a patent filing. This is the evolution of the traditional Polymer Modified Asphalt (PMA - dry method) technology and it consists of polymeric compound additivated with graphene. An experimental research was carried out with virgin aggregates and it showed greater fatigue resistance (up to +250%), higher resilience and lower thermal susceptibility, throughout a wide range of test temperatures. In September 2018 the first on-site trial section was carried out near Rome. The project consisted in the laying of binder (7 cm) and wearing courses (3 cm) with respectively 40% and 30% of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), and an adequate rejuvenator. A kilometer of road was divided in four segments, each made with a different technology: traditional non-modified asphalt concrete, “soft” PMA with standard polymeric compound, “hard” PMA with SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene) and PMA with the innovative GESM. During the production/laying phases and the following months, the trial pavement was constantly monitored in collaboration with University La Sapienza of Rome. It will be also monitored for the following 5 years. The paper shows the first comparison results between segments 1 and 4.