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Effect of Lignin Modifier on Engineering Performance of Bituminous Binder and Mixture
Chi Xu1, Duanyi Wang1, Shaowei Zhang1
1School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Wushan Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510000, China.
Polymers
|April 3, 2021
Summary
This study explored using lignin, a biomass component, as a bitumen performance improver in asphalt pavements. Lignin enhanced low-temperature performance and mixture stability but negatively impacted fatigue life and workability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Civil Engineering
- Biomass Utilization
Background:
- Lignin constitutes ~30% of herbaceous biomass.
- Incorporating lignin into asphalt could improve pavement performance and manage costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the viability of using lignin as a bitumen performance enhancer.
- To evaluate lignin derived from aspen wood chips (KL) and corn stalk residues (CL).
Main Methods:
- Rheological, mechanical, and chemical tests were performed on lignin-modified binders.
- Key tests included Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR), low-temperature stiffness measurements, fatigue life, workability, Marshall Stability, moisture resistance, Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
Main Results:
- Lignin addition reduced non-recoverable compliance (Jnr) by 8-23% and improved low-temperature stiffness.
- However, lignin decreased fatigue life by up to 30% and workability by 126%.
- Bituminous mixtures showed improved Marshall Stability (up to 21%) and moisture resistance (up to 13%).
- GPC indicated a decrease in asphalt binder molecular weight, while FTIR showed no significant functional group changes.
Conclusions:
- Lignin shows potential as a bitumen modifier, offering benefits in low-temperature performance and mixture stability.
- Drawbacks include reduced fatigue life and workability, necessitating further research for optimization.
- Lignin's impact on binder properties, like molecular weight, requires consideration for practical application.
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