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. 2025 Jun 20;18(13):2925.
doi: 10.3390/ma18132925.

Study on the Rheological Optimization and Multiscale Verification of the Asphalt Rejuvenator

Shanglin Song  1   2   3 , Zhen Wang  4 , Xiupeng Yao  5   6 , Meng Guo  5   6 , Haihong Zhang  1 , Hongbin Chen  1 , Fukui Zhang  7
Affiliations

Study on the Rheological Optimization and Multiscale Verification of the Asphalt Rejuvenator

Shanglin Song et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

The use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) is a sustainable strategy to conserve natural resources, reduce environmental pollution, and lower construction costs. However, aged asphalt in RAP suffers from oxidation and loss of light fractions, increasing stiffness and brittleness. A key scientific challenge is how to effectively restore the performance of aged asphalt while maintaining cost efficiency. In this study, a novel asphalt rejuvenator was developed to address this issue. The rejuvenator consists of 6% aromatic oil-like materials to replenish light components, 1.52% plasticizer to enhance ductility, and 0.3% modifier A to improve adhesion, with a total dosage of 7.82% by the mass of the aged binder. The rejuvenator meets the requirements of Chinese specifications. The performance evaluation was conducted at both asphalt binder and mixture scales. The results show that the rejuvenator significantly improves low-temperature cracking resistance and medium-temperature fatigue performance of aged binders, although it slightly reduces high-temperature rutting resistance. When applied to asphalt mixtures with 45% RAP, the rejuvenated mixtures exhibited enhanced low-temperature performance. A comparative analysis with commercial rejuvenators confirmed the developed product's competitive performance and economic benefit. This study provides technical insight into rejuvenator design and addresses critical challenges in RAP recycling for sustainable pavement engineering.

Keywords: RAP (recycled asphalt pavement); oil-like materials of aromatic hydrocarbons; rejuvenator; road performance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors Shanglin Song, Haihong Zhang and Hongbin Chen were employed by the company Gansu Provincial Transportation Research Institute Group Co., Ltd. Author Shanglin Song was employed by the company Scientific Observation and Research Base of Transport Industry of Long Term Performance of Highway Infrastructure in Northwest Cold and Arid Regions. Author Zhen Wang was employed by the company Beijing Municipal Road and Bridge Building Materials Group Co., Ltd. Author Fukui Zhang was employed by the company Gansu Provincial Highway Development Group Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Grading curve. Note: Grade A is the grading of ordinary asphalt mixture, while Grade B is the grading of the rejuvenated asphalt mixture with 45% RAP.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Technical roadmap.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Complex modulus master curve of different types of rejuvenated asphalt binders.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Unrecoverable flexibility and creep recovery of different types of rejuvenated asphalt binder at two stress levels. (a) Unrecoverable flexibility; (b) Creep recovery. Note: the lower limit of the error bar represents the minimum value of the sample test, the upper limit of the error bar represents the maximum value of the sample test, and the data label is the average value of the experimental data; it is the same below.
Figure 5
Figure 5
G–R parameter values for different types of rejuvenated asphalt binders.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Values of stiffness modulus (S) and creep rate (m) for different types of rejuvenated asphalt binders. (a) Stiffness modulus (b) Creep rate.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Complex modulus master curves of asphalt binder rejuvenated with different formulations of rejuvenator C.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Unrecoverable flexibility and creep recovery of asphalt binder rejuvenated with different formulations of rejuvenator C at two stress levels. (a) Unrecoverable flexibility; (b) Creep recovery.
Figure 9
Figure 9
G–R parameter values of asphalt binder rejuvenated with different formulations of rejuvenator C.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Values of modulus of stiffness (S) and creep rate (m) of asphalt binder rejuvenated with different formulations of rejuvenator C. (a) Modulus of stiffness; (b) Creep rate.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Complex modulus master curves of asphalt binders rejuvenated with the same formulation and different oil-like materials of aromatic hydrocarbons of rejuvenators.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Unrecoverable flexibility and creep recovery of asphalt binder rejuvenated with the same formulation but different oil-like materials of aromatic hydrocarbons at two stress levels. (a) Unrecoverable flexibility; (b) Creep recovery.
Figure 13
Figure 13
G–R parameter values for different types of rejuvenated asphalt binders.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Values of stiffness modulus S and creep rate m for different types of rejuvenated asphalt binders. (a) Stiffness modulus; (b) Creep rate.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Liquid asphalt binder rejuvenator C3.
Figure 16
Figure 16
Comparison of the results of rejuvenated asphalt mixtures in the water-immersion Marshall test.
Figure 17
Figure 17
Comparison of freeze–thaw splitting test results for rejuvenated asphalt mixtures.
Figure 18
Figure 18
Comparison of dynamic stability test results for rejuvenated asphalt mixtures.
Figure 19
Figure 19
Comparison of flexural and tensile strain test results for rejuvenated asphalt mixtures.
Figure 20
Figure 20
Experimental road paving site for rejuvenator.
Figure 21
Figure 21
Comparison of Marshall test results for immersion of rejuvenated asphalt mixtures on experimental roads.
Figure 22
Figure 22
Comparison of freeze–thaw splitting test results of rejuvenated asphalt mixtures on test roads.
Figure 23
Figure 23
Comparison of dynamic stability test results of rejuvenated asphalt mixtures from the test section.
Figure 24
Figure 24
Comparison of flexural and tensile strain test results of rejuvenated asphalt mixtures on test roads.
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