Ability of nanomaterials to effectively disperse in asphalt binders for use as a modifier

Several studies have investigated the use of nanomaterials to modify asphalt binders and achieve improved properties. It is possible that in some cases nanomaterials do not disperse and agglomerate within the asphalt binder. In such cases, the benefits from the addition of these nanoscale modifiers are limited and are likely driven by mechanisms that can potentially be achieved using larger filler-sized materials. This study investigates the dispersion characteristics of a selected set of nanomaterials in surrogate solvents that represent a physicochemical environment similar to that of asphalt binders. The study also investigates the influence of these nanomaterials on the performance characteristics of asphalt binders. Results show that among the nanomaterials evaluated, those that tend to disperse relatively better in the surrogate environment, i.e., retain their nanoscale identity better relative to others, also tend to show a relatively better performance in terms of rheological properties. This is especially true at low temperatures.