Analysis on meso-structure of zeolite asphalt

In order to find out the warm mix mechanism of zeolite warm mix asphalt, the meso-structure of zeolite asphalt was studied. Dynamic nano particle analyzer, scanning electron microscopy and mercury porosimetry were used to analyze the granularity, mesoscopic features and pore characteristics of three kinds of zeolites; stereo microscope and X-ray CT technology were used to quantitatively analyze the two-dimensional and three-dimensional distribution of bubbles in three kinds of zeolite warm mix asphalts, and characteristic parameters of bubbles' distribution in zeolite-asphalt were thus determined, then the relationship between bubbles' distribution characteristic parameters and zeolite properties was established. The results show that synthetic zeolites have higher content of macropores, as well as bigger pore volume and smaller specific surface area than the natural ones. The bubbles produced by zeolite water have the distribution characteristics of "the upper the more and bigger, the lower the less and smaller"; the quantity of bubbles will decrease with the increase of temperature, yet the volume percentage will increase; zeolites with median pore that have small diameter and more mesopore and macropore are beneficial to the formation of the bubbles, which will promote the effect of warm mix, yet the large pore is not beneficial to forming bubbles, which contributes less to the effect of warm mix.