Development of asphalt cements for road pavement using sustainable <scp>nanomaterials: A</scp> review
Parinaz Ataeian, James Cheon, Yashar Azimi Alamdary, Kam Chiu Tam
Abstract
Abstract In today's world, transportation infrastructure plays a vital role in global competitiveness and quality of life in societies. The pavement industry deals with tremendous amounts of construction materials. Thus, even a small improvement in the technology can lead to significant environmental benefits and a reduction in the life‐cycle cost of road networks. Asphalt cement is an integral part of road pavement construction, and despite favorable properties at the processing temperature, some challenges need to be addressed to reduce cost and improve performance. This review discusses the nanocellulose modification of asphalt cement for pavement application. Three primary cellulose‐based nanoparticles were studied, including bacterial cellulose, cellulose nanofibers, and cellulose nanocrystals, and their applications in asphalt cement modification. Various research results show significant improvement in pavement's rheological and performance properties with the help of cellulose‐based nanoparticles. However, this review provides the reader with an objective evaluation of the benefits and practical challenges ahead of the industrial‐scale application of nanocellulose in the pavement industry.