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. 2025 Aug 6;18(15):3696.
doi: 10.3390/ma18153696.

Effect of Aggregate Type on Asphalt-Aggregate Adhesion and Its Quantitative Characterization

Liuxiao Chen  1   2 , Junlin Li  2 , Hao Xiang  1   3 , Jun Zhang  2 , Enlin Feng  4 , Lin Kong  5
Affiliations

Effect of Aggregate Type on Asphalt-Aggregate Adhesion and Its Quantitative Characterization

Liuxiao Chen et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

To study the effect of aggregate type on the adhesion between asphalt and aggregate, limestone, basalt, diabase, and 70# asphalt with SBS asphalt were selected. The mineral phase composition of the aggregates was analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The surface energy theory was used to calculate the adhesion work and the work of flaking. The modified water boiling method combined with image processing technology was used to quantitatively characterize the flaking behavior of the asphalt. The results show that the aggregate type is closely related to the asphalt-aggregate adhesion. The mineral compositions of different types of aggregates vary significantly, with limestone, being a strongly alkaline aggregate predominantly comprising CaCO3, exhibiting better adhesion with asphalt. The contact angle test and modified boiling method also yielded the same results, and the adhesion relationship with asphalt was limestone > basalt > diabase. Image processing technology effectively characterizes the spalling situation of asphalt and conducts quantitative analysis.

Keywords: asphalt–aggregate adhesion; image processing techniques; surface energy; water boiling test.

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Conflict of interest statement

Enlin Feng was employed by the Sichuan Zhen Tong Inspection 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
XRD diffractogram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Aggregate mineral composition.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Contact angle test results.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Surface energy parameters.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Adhesion work between asphalt and aggregate.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Flaking work between asphalt and aggregate.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Asphalt mass loss rate: (a) 70# asphalt; (b) SBS asphalt.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Schematic of image processing (70# asphalt).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Asphalt spalling rate: (a) 70# asphalt; (b) SBS asphalt.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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