Development of a sustainable pervious pavement material using recycled ceramic aggregate and bio-based polyurethane binder

Permeable pavements facilitate the infiltration and percolation of stormwater and are therefore increasingly used to mitigate the growing risk of urban flooding. Although extensive research has been conducted on the hydraulic and mechanical properties of Porous Asphalt (PA), the durability is still a main obstacle inhibiting the widespread application of PA. In this study, a new permeable pavement material is developed by replacing natural aggregate with recycled ceramic aggregate and replacing bitumen with a bio-based polyurethane (PU) binder. The mechanical properties, functional properties and the environmental performance of the new material are examined and compared with those of conventional PA. The material is found to exhibit a high compressive strength and a high resistance to permanent deformation, roughly twice that of conventional PA. It also shows highly superior hydraulic conductivity compared to PA when subjected to the same hydraulic gradient. The material exhibits less aggregate raveling, resulting in a better skid resistance and excellent acoustic absorption properties across a broader range of frequencies. Since the material does not need to be heated, it facilitates a significant reduction in energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In conclusion, the porous pavement material using bio-based polyurethane binder and recycled ceramic aggregate not only achieves environmental benefits, but also has promising mechanical and functional properties and helps enhance the hydraulic performance of permeable pavements.