Rheological properties of asphalt binders prepared with maize oil

Abstract Warm mix asphalt (WMA) has some advantages relative to Hot mix asphalt (HMA), the high temperatures employed during the production of HMA generate negative impacts on the environment and to the health of workers exposed to asphalt fumes. Because of this fact, this research studied the use of maize oil for the production of mixtures WMA. Brazil is a highlight in the ranking of maize cooking oil production, which generates a significant amount of waste that the improper disposal of it, which could seriously affect the sewage pipes, groundwater and soil. This research aims to study the incorporation of 1%, 2% and 3% of maize oil (new and waste) to two types of asphalt binder (pure and with Styrene–Butadiene–Styrene – SBS). The samples were analyzed by penetration index, softening point, rotational viscosity, Performance Grade (PG), Multiple Stress Creep and Recovery (MSCR) and frequency sweep tests. The results of the tests showed that the addition of 1% maize waste oil decreases the temperatures of mixing and compaction around 6 °C using the asphalt binder 50/70 and 4 °C for the asphalt binder with SBS without compromising the rheological properties. In this research, there was no significant difference in the use of new or waste oil, thus contributing to the ecologically correct use of waste oil.