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Laboratory Evaluation of Asphalt Mixes of High Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Contents with Polymer Cool Mix Additive and Rejuvenator as Sustainable Paving Materials
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Laboratory Evaluation of Asphalt Mixes of High Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Contents with Polymer Cool Mix Additive and Rejuvenator as Sustainable Paving Materials

Cody Hall, Giuseppe Gianforte and Hosin (David) Lee
Infrastructures (Basel), Vol.11(7), 233
07/10/2026
DOI: 10.3390/infrastructures11070233
url
https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures11070233View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) has been increasing due to its economic benefits and environmental sustainability. Adding RAP materials introduces age-hardened binder, which tends to increase the rutting resistance but decrease cracking resistance. This study aims to evaluate the effects of various RAP contents and binder additives on asphalt performance using the Hamburg wheel tracking test, the Semi-Circular Bending-Illinois Flexibility Index Test (SCB-IFIT) and the Indirect Tensile Asphalt Cracking Test (IDEAL-CT). Asphalt mixtures with RAP contents of 0%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% were prepared using two different binder additives of Zero-M polymer cool mix asphalt additive (PCMA) and Anova vegetable oil-based rejuvenator. Based on the Hamburg test results, the rutting resistance significantly increased by adding 20% RAP but did not increase the rutting resistance any further when RAP increased from 20% to 50%. However, the increase in RAP content exhibited a negative impact on cracking resistance by lowering Flexibility Index (FI) based on the SCB-IF test by 50% or more and CT Index (CTindex) based on IDEAL-CT test by 60% or more. For each RAP content, asphalt mixtures incorporating two different additives were tested: (1) Zero-M additive at a dosage rate of 10% of the total binder with mixing/compaction temperature of 110 °C and (2) Anova additive at a dosage rate of 5% of the RAP binder with mixing/compaction temperature of 135 °C. Compared to the control specimens without additive, asphalt mixtures with Zero-M additive increased FI and CTindex by 50% except CTindex of 30% RAP mix. Zero-M additive increased the rut depth from 3 mm to 10 mm for 20% and 30% RAP mixes but, for 40% and 50% RAP contents, the rutting was less than 5 mm after 20,000 repetitions. Anova rejuvenator did not increase FI and CTindex of 30% and 50% RAP mixes but increased FI and CTindex by 50% for 40% RAP mix. Anova additive did not increase the rutting of the control mix. The SCB-IFIT test results exhibited an average coefficient of variation (COV) of 0.25 whereas the IDEAL-CT test results had a COV of 0.20. The IDEAL-CT test, with its simpler preparation process and more consistent results, is recommended as the preferred test procedure over the SCB-IFIT test.
 Polymer Cool Mix Asphalt (PCMA) Rejuvenator High Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Content Semi-Circular Bending-Illinois Flexibility Index Test (SCB-IFIT) Indirect Tensile Asphalt Cracking Test (IDEAL-CT)

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