Engineering characterization and environmental analysis of natural rubber latex modified asphalt mixture

Abstract

Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) has attracted considerable interest as a resource for renewable paving materials due to its potential to lessen environmental impact. In order to gain a thorough understanding of the performance of NRL, this study evaluated the mechanical properties and environmental impact of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) mixtures with a 6.6% binder content, 5% air voids content, and 5% NRL by weight of binder. The performance of this NRL asphalt mixture was compared to a control asphalt mixture using a commercially available polymer modified Styrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS) binder. The performance of the asphalt mixtures, such as their tensile strength, stiffness modulus, and resistance to fatigue and rutting, as well as their Global Warming Potential (GWP) impact, were studied. The results indicate that the addition of NRL increased tensile strength, stiffness modulus, and fatigue life in comparison to a conventional, unmodified asphalt mixture but had slightly lower values in comparison to the SBS mixture. Moreover, in terms of environmental concern, life-cycle assessment reveals that NRL-modified mixtures are more sustainable than SBS-modified mixtures in terms of GWP value.