Title of article :
Determining the effect of ageing of nano-clay modified bitumen using atomic force microscopy
Author/Authors :
Omar, H.A Department of Civil Engineering - University of Tripoli - Elhei Eljamaiei - Elhei Eljamaiei Main Street - Tripoli, Libya , Mubaraki, M Faculty of Engineering - Jazan University - Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , Abdullah, N.H School of Housing - Building and Planning - Universiti Sains Malaysia - Penang, Malaysia , Al-Sabaeei, A Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering - Universiti Teknologi Petronas - Perak, Malaysia , Memon, A.M Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering - Universiti Teknologi Petronas - Perak, Malaysia , Imran Khan, M Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering - Universiti Teknologi Petronas - Perak, Malaysia , Sutanto, M.H Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering - Universiti Teknologi Petronas - Perak, Malaysia , Md Yusoff, N.I Department of Civil Engineering - Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia - Selangor, Malaysia
Abstract :
The present study aims to evaluate the effects of ageing simulation on
the physical properties of Nano-Clay Modified Bitumens (NCMBs). Bitumen with the
penetration grade of 60/70 is modified with 0, 2, and 4% nano-clay, and the consistency
of the samples is characterized using the penetration, softening point, and viscosity tests
before and after aging. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was employed to evaluate the
surface roughness and tip de
flection of the modified bitumens. The results of the consistency
tests revealed that incorporation of nano-clay up to 4% NC resulted in increased hardness
of the modified bitumen, and all the modified bitumens were affected by ageing. Of note,
the results from surface roughness and tip de
flection showed a similar trend, while 2NCMB
exhibited the lowest roughness and highest tip de
flection. However, the results of the
consistency tests and AFM conducted on ageing sensitivity of the bitumens were different,
indicating that incorporation of nano-clay had an effect on the modified bitumen, but not
on the unmodified bitumen. There was a high correlation between the results of consistency
tests, surface roughness, and tip de
ection, indicating that AFM could identify any changes
in the
uidity of the bitumen. However, the correlation between the tip de
ection and
penetration was tenuous.
Keywords :
Bitumen , Nano-clay , Ageing , Consistency tests , Atomic force microscopy
Journal title :
Scientia Iranica(Transactions A: Civil Engineering)
