Quantitative comparison of surface and interface adhesive properties of fine aggregate asphalt mixtures composed of basalt, steel slag, and andesite

Abstract Quantitative analysis was conducted in this study using a three-dimensional field microscope, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and molecular simulation to investigate the surface and interface adhesive properties of three fine aggregate asphalt mixtures (FAM): basalt, steel slag, and andesite. The roughness of the aggregate and the contact angle of the asphalt on the aggregate surfaces also were analyzed quantitatively. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to evaluate the adhesive properties, molecular diffusion, and interfacial failure mechanisms of the basalt-, steel slag-, and andesite-based FAM. The average roughness values of the basalt, steel slag, and andesite were found to be 138.2 µm, 244.0 µm, and 185.2 µm, respectively. The stripping percentages of the basalt, steel slag, and andesite were 11.3%, 3.3%, and 10.8%, respectively. The diffusion coefficients of the resins (3.32 × 10−9 m2/s) and asphaltenes (3.05 × 10−9 m2/s) were higher than the diffusion coefficient of the oils (2.98 × 10−9 m2/s). The results indicate that the surface roughness and adhesive capacity of the aggregate used in this study can be ranked in decreasing order as steel slag, andesite, and basalt. The asphaltenes and resins contributed to the asphalt’s increased adhesion to the aggregate particles. Both adhesive and cohesive failure were found for the basalt-, steel slag-, and andesite-based FAM, but the steel slag FAM exhibited more cohesive failure, whereas the basalt and andesite FAM exhibited more adhesive failure.