Mechanical and thermal properties of graphene modified asphalt binders

Graphene is considered to be a promising material for the development of the next generation of asphalt binders to be used in road engineering. Nonetheless, in spite of the potential advantages that graphene could add to bitumen, there are currently very few studies able to quantify its real contribution to the performance of existing binders. This research therefore aims to evaluate the mechanical and thermal properties of graphene modified binders. For this purpose, rheological and thermal tests were conducted on binders manufactured with different dosages of graphene flakes. The results indicate that the presence of graphene produces a more elastic response in asphalt binders. However, the resulting recovery capacity is not as effective as that provided by other asphalt modifiers such as elastomers. In addition, it has been shown that graphene can reduce the thermal susceptibility of these binders, increasing their capacity to be heated and to produce heat transfer.