Study on performance deterioration of asphalt and asphalt mixtures containing Mafilon under internal salt freeze–thaw cycles

The purpose of this work is to determine the implications of internal salt freeze–thaw cycles (F–TCs) on performance deterioration to asphalt and asphalt mixtures containing Mafilon (MFL). The deterioration to different numbers of F–TCs and different MFL contents on asphalt properties and mechanism were investigated by physical properties tests and microcosmic tests. Then the damages of road performance indexes of asphalt mixtures containing different MFL contents were studied by road performance tests. The experimental results show that asphalt containing MFL after F–TCs has a remarkable decline in ductility and penetration, while growth in softening point. Internal salt F–TCs are most damaging to the cryogenic properties of asphalt. Chemical reactions and salt aging effects occur in salt F–TCs, raising the glass transition temperature of asphalt. Road performance tests indicate the deterioration of internal salt F–TCs to high temperature stability and water stability is the most pronounced, with 29.18% and 21.78% reduction, respectively.