Study on the pavement performances and the modification mechanism of dry-modified asphalt with rubber-plastic composite particles

Both waste tires and plastics are difficult to break down naturally. The wet-modified asphalt has the disadvantages of a complicated process and poor storage stability. The dry-modified asphalt could remedy the disadvantages of the wet-modified asphalt. Therefore, the dry-modified asphalt with rubber-plastic composite modified particles (RPCMP) improved not only the pavement performance but also the construction advantages. The feasibility of a dry-modified asphalt mixture with RPCMP was studied by the pavement performances and modification mechanism. The experimental results were as follows: The performances of RPCMP dry-modified asphalt were slightly lower than those of wet-modified asphalt and had a great improvement in high-temperature, low-temperature, and moisture susceptibility performances. The RPCMP dry-modified asphalt has enough technical advantages; The diffusion of dry-modified asphalt and the segregation of wet-modified asphalt resulted in the two having the same modification effect. RPCMP dry-modified asphalt had sufficient construction advantages. Therefore, it was feasible to replace wet-modified asphalt with dry-modified asphalt. The addition of RPCMP could further meet the requirements of pavement performance and environmental protection. • Pavement performances of rubber-plastic dry-modified asphalt were improved. • Rubber-plastic dry-modified asphalt had the same mechanism as wet-modified asphalt. • Dry-modified asphalt had the sufficient advantages to replace wet-modified asphalt.