Assessing the feasibility of incorporating phase change material in hot mix asphalt

This paper investigated the feasibility of using lightweight aggregate (LWA) as a medium for incorporating phase change material (PCM) in hot mix asphalt (HMA) in order to extend pavement life by reducing the magnitude of temperature fluctuations. First, evaporation and absorption tests were conducted to investigate the absorption properties of LWA and the loss of PCM during heating. Then, batches of samples with varying concentrations of PCM were created and the thermal properties were evaluated using a guarded longitudinal comparative calorimeter (GLCC). Data from thermal testing indicated that the incorporation of PCM slowed the rate of cooling and reduced low temperatures when compared to control samples. Further research should investigate PCM incorporation methods, improve the mix design, and experiment with different combinations of PCMs and thermal fluctuations.