The Effect of Using Ceramic Waste Powder as a Filler on the Performance of Bitumen Mastic and Hot Asphalt Mix

The use of raw resources is increasing due to the continuous increase of world population and rapid industrialization; while natural resources are being depleted day by day. The use of waste or manufactured materials in road construction has significant environmental and economic benefits. In this study, the use of ceramic powder as mineral filler in hot asphalt mix as an alter- native method to traditional crushed stone was investigated. The optimal amount of bitumen was determined using Marshall Mix Design method or using four different amounts of bitumen 4.5%, 5% and 5.5%. With the optimal amount of bitumen, two different types of corroded mineral fillers, ceramic and stone powder with three different filler ratios (4%, 6%, and 8%) were used to prepare asphalt mixture samples. The samples were subjected to Marshall Resistance Test, flow, determination of empty space percentage and percentage of empty space filled with bitumen and the results were compared. Also, to evaluate the type and amount of filler on the performance of bitumen, penetration degree test, softening point and ductility test of pure bitumen and bitumen containing two materials of calcareous filler and ceramic powder with different percentages were performed. The results show that the Marshall and flow strength of mixtures containing calcareous filler is about 5% higher and 12% less than the mixture containing the waste filler, respectively, and with increasing the percentage of filler in asphalt samples, the average degree of penetration and elasticity are about 30% and 4.5%, respectively decreases and softening point increases 7%; These changes are more severe in asphalt samples containing calcareous fillers. In general, it can be concluded that ceramic waste powder can be used in asphalt mixture as a mineral filler to replace crushed rock dust, because the use of this material as filler in road construction is appropriate in terms of economic and environmental factors.