Physicochemical Characterization, Binder Rheology, and Engineering Performance of Diatomite-Microfiber Hybrid Asphalt Systems
POLYMERS, cilt.18, sa.20, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 18 Sayı: 20
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.3390/polym18202597
- Dergi Adı: POLYMERS
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Compendex, INSPEC, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Diatomite and microfibers have been investigated as asphalt modifiers, but limited attention has been given to how differences between diatomite sources and microfiber formulations are reflected across binder- and mixture-scale performance. This study investigated two diatomites (D1 and D2) and three microfibers-polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and basalt-using a multiscale experimental approach. The diatomites were characterized by particle-size analysis, SEM-EDS, XRF, and XRD, while the fibers were examined using SEM-EDS, XRD, and binder-retention testing. Diatomite-modified binders containing 10% and 15% modifier were evaluated for conventional, rheological, and aging properties. At the mixture scale, selected 15%D1 and 10%D2 systems were combined with the three fibers and compared with unmodified and 5% SBS-modified references. D1 was finer and had a slightly higher SiO2 content than D2, while both showed silica-rich porous structures. Diatomite generally increased binder consistency and viscosity and improved the high-temperature rheological response without changing the BBR critical temperature. The 10%D2-PAN mixture achieved the highest indirect tensile strength (4.29 MPa), while the tensile strength ratios of 10%D2-PAN and 10%D2-PET were 82-83%. The 10%D2 formulations showed Cantabro losses of 5.5-6.7% and permanent deformations of 0.247-0.255 mm. In the adapted 100 mm SCB test, 10%D2-PAN also produced the highest flexibility index (10.6) and fracture energy (7.3 kJ/m2). Overall, the results indicate that diatomite source characteristics and microfiber formulation should be considered together, with 10%D2-PAN exhibiting a favorable combination of strength, moisture-resistance, particle-loss, permanent-deformation, and fracture-related responses under the investigated conditions.