The Influence of Mineral Wool on the Properties of the Mineral-Asphalt Mixture

In this article, the authors presented the results of research evaluating the impact of mineral wool on the properties of asphalt mixtures intended for the wearing course. The primary goal of the research was to assess the suitability of granulated mineral wool as a modifier for asphalt mixtures, improving their strength and performance parameters. The research methodology was selected in accordance with the requirements of national technical documents. The analysis of the mineral wool's impact was conducted for AS 11 S asphalt concrete at 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.2% by weight of the asphalt mixture. Based on the research, it was concluded that the use of mineral wool reduced the stability of the samples and increased settlement in the Marshall test, which was its only negative effect. Furthermore, the addition of 1.0% mineral wool increases the resistance of samples to water and frost by 31%, while the addition of 1.2% mineral wool increases the stiffness of asphalt concrete by 35% at a reference temperature of 5 °C and by 15% at reference temperatures of 10 °C and 15 °C. It was found that the use of mineral wool as an additive allows for a reduction in the maximum rut by up to 50% and the slope of the rutting graph by 73%.