Laboratory investigation of the properties of asphalt and its mixtures modified with flame retardant

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the properties of asphalt and its mixtures modified with Decarbomodiphenyl ether (EBPED), Antimony trioxide and zinc borate (ZB). Thermal analysis and Infrared spectroscopy (IR) were used to asses the effects of the flame retardants on physical and chemical properties of asphalt binders. The pavement performances of flame retardant modified asphalt mixture were estimated by Marshall stability, Marshall stability loss, flow value, indirect tensile strength (ITS), ITS loss and dynamic stability. To investigate the flame retardancy of asphalt mixture, the limited oxygen index (LOI) test sample of asphalt mixture was prepared by the substitution of mineral powder for aggregate in mixture. Experimental results indicated that the addition of flame retardant did drastically change the thermal degradation behavior of asphalt binder, but the distribution of functional group and structure of asphalt binders did not appear to alter radically upon flame retardant. Flame retardant modified asphalt mixtures have better flame retardancy and pavement performances. Therefore, flame retardant modified asphalt mixture is a novel road functional material to meet demands as flame retardant materials and road materials at the same time.